Swindon Cougars 4 Peterborough Phantoms 2

Saturday 28 January 2012

For the quick return fixture against the always difficult Phantoms, Cougars were only missing Thompson (injury) and Abu-Ebid (unavailable), but Pullen returned from her spell on the sidelines and Z Dolphin also played up from 16s. Cougars therefore lined up with Pullen & Bonello (NMs); Kielczewski, P Young, R Young, Pettitt, Thrower and McGiffin (D) and J Dolphin, Z Dolphin, Taylor, Nell, Redmond, Bancroft, Smith and Da Cova (F). Match officials R. Webster, D. Osburne-Edwards and J. Tabel.

Period 1

Scoring
Cougars > 1 – 0 > Taylor/Nell @ 04:11 (EHG)
Cougars > 2 – 0 > Smith/Nell & J Dolphin @ 13:52 (EHG)
Cougars > 3 – 0 > J Dolphin/Kielczewski & Smith @ 19:00 (EHG & GWG)

Penalties
Cougars > Taylor > 2 Mins, Slashing @ 09:38
Phantoms > Whincup > 2 Mins, Holding @ 09:38
Cougars > Pettitt > 2 Mins, Tripping @ 11:01
Cougars > Taylor > 2 Mins, Slashing @ 14:16

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 12 on Lane
Phantoms > 11 on Bonello

A high octane start, as both teams sought to get an early breakthrough, but Cougars appeared to be getting the better of most the early battles; there were some big early checks, quite rightly un-punished by the ref. Cougars eventually turned their pressure into goals, firstly in the 5th minute before extending it at the 14th and further still (with what proved to be the game winner) as the period entered its final minute. This was by far the best single period the Cougars have had this season, and Phantoms looked to be struggling to cope with what the hosts were throwing at them. Four penalties in the period, 3 on Cougars to 1 on Phantoms would have been higher with many other refs, but this one is known to try to keep the game flowing and there wasn’t really anything major that he didn’t deal effectively with.

Period 2

Scoring
Phantoms > 3 – 1 > Williamson/Hook @ 24:21 (PPG)

Penalties
Cougars > R Young > 2 Mins, Hooking @ 23:18
Phantoms > Brobst > 2 Mins, Tripping @ 25:33
Phantoms > Burai > 2 Mins, Delay of Game @ 35:50

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 9 on Lane
Phantoms > 8 on Bonello

At the request of the Cougars bench there was a quick turn around between periods, presumably to maintain the pressure, but in actuality it turned out to favour Phantoms more, as they steadily and menacingly took control of the game, without really developing enough to pressure Bonello. Cougars’ first penalty of the period eventually led to the breaking of the shut-out with a rasping shot from the point flashing underneath Bonello’s brave attempt at just about the penalty’s halfway. But that turned out to be the only score of the period as Phantoms were unable to cut the deficit further and Cougars, being pinned back more and more, were not able to maintain their P1 tempo and struggled to make any decent chances. Two penalties on Phantoms to one on Cougars, and like the away game, it left the third finely balanced.

Period 3

Scoring
Phantoms > 3 – 2 > Moore @ 51:19 (PPG)
Cougars > 4 – 2 > Smith/Pettitt @ 59:20 (ENG)

Penalties
Cougars > Taylor > 2 Mins, Roughing @ 50:35
Cougars > Taylor > 10 Mins, Personal Misconduct @ 50:35
Phantoms > Brobst > 2 Mins, Clipping @ 55:11
Cougars > McGiffin > 2 Mins, Holding @ 56:16

Shots on Goal
Cougars > 7 on Lane (personal and team total 28)
Phantoms > 9 on Bonello (personal and team total 28)

Cougars really needed to restore some of their P1 dominance, but not much really came of their early efforts to do so, whilst Phantoms, continuing to look the stronger, were also not able to find the necessary final touch. Then just after the 51st minute had turned Phantoms finally achieved the breakthrough that tightened the game up with their second Powerplay goal of the day after a bit of a scramble around Bonello’s goal. Again Phantoms were unable to capitalise as Cougars dug deep and worked hard in D to protect the now diminished lead. Finally as time began to count down Phantoms called a time-out and from the restart pulled Lane for the extra attacker; after a couple of close squeaks the puck broke to Pettitt who threaded a pass out of D to Smith who had taken up a position by the red line. Taking care with the chance he advanced across the blue line and potted the empty net insurance marker to make the score the exact mirror of the away fixture. It really was no more than Cougars deserved, the excellent P1 performance being matched by a committed D performance in the rest of the game as Cougars largely kept Phantoms main danger man Hook quiet throughout. The player of the match awards went to the two team captains Phantoms’ Barber and Cougars’ Pettitt.

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