Spring Cup Week 6 Match Reports
By Lauryn Fuller
Fri Mar-19 Swindon v Telford
The beginning fixture of the penultimate weekend of the Spring Cup, saw the Swindon wildcats host the Telford Tigers in the two team’s final matchup of the series.
The Wildcats got off to the best start, with Jordan Kelsall opening the scoring for the home team within the first two minutes of the game. The first period saw neither team score any more goals and the scoreline stayed at 1-0 to the Cats at the end of the first period.
Again, the Wildcats were able to strike first in the second period. This time Same Godfrey managed to light the lamp in under a minute of the first faceoff. The Tigers were able to find a response within a few minutes and cut the Wildcats lead to just one goal.
The third period saw the Wildcats still with the one-goal lead. With around 10 minutes left to play, Ben Davies pushed the cats into a two-goal lead once more. This was followed up with Tomasz Malasinski ultimately scoring the winner for the home side, as the Wildcats took the 4-1 lead.
Next weekend is the closing weekend of the Spring Cup. Swindon will play the Bees and the Steeldogs to end their Cup run. The Telford Tigers will also play the Steeldogs, as well as travelling to Romford on Saturday to play the Raiders.
Sat Mar-20 Raiders v Swindon
Last time around, the Swindon Wildcats left Romford with a 6-1 victory against the Raiders. Saturday’s first match up saw these two teams once again battle it out in their last meeting of the Spring Cup.
Tommy Huggett struck first for the home side giving the Raiders a 1-0 lead. This lead was short-lived as Aaron Nell found a goal minutes later to tie the game. The Wildcats found one more goal in the first to take their first lead of the game.
The second period didn’t see as much goal scoring actions as the first did. Glenn Billing found an equaliser for the Raiders, making the game tied going into the third and final period of the fixture.
A powerplay goal for the Raiders sent them into the lead within seconds of the third period starting. The remaining 10 minutes of the period saw a flurry of goals. The Wildcats were first to score, with Chris Jones providing the equaliser.
This was quickly counted by the Raiders who scored their fourth, fifth and sixth goals all within four minutes to power them into the lead. This left too much to do for the Wildcats who were unable to counter and feel to a 6-3 defeat away from home.
Sith this being Swindon’s last fixture of the weekend they can prepare for their fixtures in the Spring Cups final weekend, against the Bees and the Sheffield Steeldogs.
Sat Mar-20 Bees v Sheffield
The Sheffield steel dogs come into this weekend on a 10-game winning streak, having beaten every other team in the Spring Cup. The Bees, on the other hand, are tied with the Raiders for the bottom spot of the table, only falling below them on goal difference.
The first period saw lots of end-to-end actions from the teams but very few goals. The Bees were the first to open the scoring, with Joshua Smith converting and putting the home side into the lead.
Within a minute of the second period starting the Steeldogs found their equaliser. They also found an opening in a shorthanded opportunity to take the lead. They found their third in a powerplay chance from Ben lake. The Steeldogs held the two-goal lead into the third period.
They sealed the victory through Liam Kirk, who scored in another shorthanded situation.
This victory for the Steeldogs continues their winning streak and puts them one step closer to claiming the top spot of the Series. If they beat the Raiders on Sunday, their victory can be confirmed in this penultimate weekend.