Ozi burns the Phoenix The Bradfield Brewery Sheffield Steeldogs started 2015 with familiar rivals as Roses foe; the Manchester Phoenix provided the opposition at iceSheffield. The Steeldogs were missing Korhon, Pattison and Elliott from the line-up and used Duncombe as an emergency forward. Declan Ryan started in goal for the visitors with Dalibor Sedlar in net for Sheffield. A large crowd were present to see an inform Steeldogs team and it was the home team who started quickly when Gibson set up Hirst with a gilt edged chance but he couldnt find the target. Soon after, Phoenix forward Frantisek Bakrlik found himself with space in the slot and fired the first of the game home at 4.41.With Sheffield killing a penalty, Tom Squires had a chance on a breakaway but couldnt beat Ryan. Lloyd Gibson made contact with Ryan and Bobby Chamberlain shadowed him and they dropped gloves; both received 2+2 roughing penalties. Despite some good pressure from the Dogs, it was Bakrlik who bagged the second goal of the contest as he again found space to power home assisted by Kovar and Walker. With just 44 seconds left in the period Ryan got dragged out of his crease by Woods dangling and after Calverts persistence, Ozolins put the biscuit in the basket. With a score of 1-2, the teams headed off the ice. The middle session began at speed and Phoenix pressure required a double save from Sedlar. Chances were coming at both ends and it was the Steeldogs who scored the levelling goal at 40.55 - Stevie Duncombe showed patience and beat Ryan when it seemed like the chance had already gone. The teams were not level for long as Manchester struck quickly with Graham beating Sedlar after a scramble. Sheffield found new life as the clock ticked down and after a number of good attacks, Janis Ozolins found a hole in Ryan following good work by Tim Smith sending the teams in level at 3-3. Manchester started the third with the upper hand although Sheffield kept generating chances too. Sedlar fired out a glove to deny the Phoenix when he was down and apparently struggling. Duncombe nearly completed another good shift with a goal but lost control at the final moment. With Payette in the box, Gibson broke away but fanned on the shot. With little time remaining Phoenix thought they had scored but referee Wardell was well placed to wipe it out. Both teams took their time outs in a bid to find the decisive breakthrough at the end of the game. An exciting hockey game which offered rich entertainment went in to overtime. Overtime began in the same way the game had finished, with end-to-end action. The Steeldogs took their momentum from the end of the game and on 61.14 Ozolins shrugged off the attentions of Burlin and ripped the puck past Ryan to secure the extra point for the home team. The game finished with a score line of 4-3 in favour of the Bradfield Brewery Sheffield Steeldogs and was a great advert for the league with two teams competing, battling and working hard for the points. The crowd certainly created a great atmosphere and got behind their teams. The White Rose emerged victorious over their Red Rose counterparts, setting up the next two encounters (Jan 8th in Manchester, Jan 18th at iceSheffield). Next home game: Sunday January 11th vs MK Lightning 5.30 face-off.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 13:28:32 +0000
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