Swindon Cougars 2 Bracknell Drones 4

Saturday 12 November 2011

Cougars came into this game on the back of a five game winning run, which they were hoping to extend as well as exacting revenge on the Drones for the away defeat in Game 3, but it was not to be on either count. Missing Pullen and Da Cova (away at a GB Women’s training camp) and McGiffin (ill), Cougars lined up with Bonello and Silvester (NMs); Shail, P Young, R Young, Kielczewski, Pettitt and Thrower (D) and Thompson, Clinton, J Dolphin, Ford, Z Dolphin, Taylor, Nell, Redmond, Bancroft, Smith and Abu-Ebid (F). Match officials – D. Nutt, S Davies and C Edwards.

Period 1

Scoring
Cougars > 1 - 0 > Smith/J Dolphin @ 18:11 (EHG)

Penalties
Cougars > Thrower > 2 min, Tripping @ 11:13
Cougars > Smith > 2 min, Elbowing @ 15:45

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 8 on Stafford-Webb
Drones > 11 on Bonello

The first period began at an unbelievably frenetic pace, as both teams showed their intent to make this a high octane game from the off. The play switched from end to end almost faster than you could blink at times and although chances were created; wasteful finishing and good netminding kept everything out until just into the 18th minute when Cougars clawed their way into the lead as Smith was first to react to some fine persistence from J Dolphin by the face-off circle. Just two minor penalties both against Cougars in the period, and Drones outshot Cougars 11 - 8 which reflected the way the game had gone to that point.

Period 2

Scoring
Drones > 1 - 1 > Gregory/Paynter @ 32:25 (PPG)
Cougars > 2 - 1 > J Dolphin/Nell @ 36:11 (EHG)

Penalties
Cougars > Smith > 2 min, Tripping @ 23:54
Cougars > Thrower > 2 min, Tripping @ 25:37
Cougars > Thrower > 2 min, Charging @ 31:51
Drones > Webb > 2 min, Tripping @ 37:04

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 6 on Stafford-Webb
Drones > 12 on Bonello

Into the second and it was more of the same, as both teams continued where they had left off, and again the scoreboard wasn’t to be troubled until after the period half-way point, as Drones finally took advantage of their 5th Powerplay opportunity when Gregory launched an unstoppable bullet past Bonello from the point that was hitting the twine from the moment it left his stick (this Powerplay arising from Thrower having cleared Leger from in front of Cougars’ goal with a hit that wouldn’t have been out of place in an EPL game). After a couple more narrow squeaks, Cougars managed to get themselves back into the lead as J Dolphin scored after a scramble around Drones’ post; this marked the end of the scoring in the period, whilst Drones suffered their first penalty against late in the period as Mr Nutt made a call that incensed several of the team and the bench. This period Drones outshot Cougars two to one at 12 - 6.

Period 3

Scoring
Drones > 2 - 2 > Moss/Leger & Paynter @ 44:57 (PPG)
Drones > 2 - 3 > Antonov/Baveystock @ 49:55 (EHG & GWG)
Drones > 2 - 4 > Barker @ 58:08 (EHG)

Penalties
Cougars > Bench (Served by Nell) > 2 min, Icing Infraction @ 41:31
Cougars > Thrower > 2 min, Elbowing @ 43:05
Drones > Paynter > 2 min, Check to the Head @ 59:40
Drones > Paynter > 10 min, Misconduct @ 59:40
Drones > Paynter > 10 min, Misconduct @ 59:40
(Automatic Game Penalty)

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 5 on Stafford-Webb (personal and team total 19)
Drones > 14 on Bonello (personal and team total 37)

The final period started with the game finely balanced despite the officials seeming to favour the visiting team in terms of penalties being assessed, and the question had to be whether they could keep going at the same pace. Unfortunately for Cougars they appeared to slow just enough to give Drones hope, which grew more after they again levelled the score with their second Powerplay goal of the game, also from a goal area scramble and with just eight seconds of the penalty remaining. As the period reached its half-way point Drones made the game winning breakthrough, and although Cougars continued to press, their increasing desperation to put away the equaliser that their play throughout fully merited, they fell to a sucker punch break-away as the puck broke free on the Drones blue line and Barker outpaced the defence to slot in the insurance marker with just under 2 mins to play. This was extremely tough on Cougars who had played probably their best and most consistent performance of the season and did not deserve to lose the match. There was however still time for a flashpoint which had been brewing for quite some time as with just 20 secs left Paynter inexplicably launched himself at Kielczewski copping a 2 + 10 Check to Head penalty, which became an automatic game (for second 10 minute misconduct) as he kept complaining to the ref once in the sin bin. Final shots on goal of 14 – 5 in the period in Drones favour did reflect the way this one had gone, and the match total again showed that Cougars need to be more incisive in front of goal. Player of the match awards were given to Drones’ Antonov and Cougars’ Clinton.

Notes
EHG = Even-Handed Goal
PPG = PowerPlay Goal
DPG = Delayed Penalty Goal
SHG = Short-Handed Goal
GWG = Game Winning Goal
ENG = Empty Net Goal



Report provided by Swindon Cougars IHC