Storm back to winning ways

 

We entertained Swindon this afternoon and after our recent form expected a tight match. Our away match, down in the link center ended with a 10-7 win which was always close. With the play-off out of reach and MK safe from relegation it was time today to ice some less experienced players.

 

The game started very even, Thomas cleared a chance, Matt surged up the ice before being stopped and Garth made an excellent interception to prevent an effort on goal. Macca received and early Pen but MK pressurized the Swindon D, Ashley did well to keep the attack going and Garth had a shot which was blocked. Thomas and Jonathan L then saw off the rest of the shorthanded spell. Emma picked up a pass from D and found Macca but he was forced into another Penalty. Kirsten, Jenifer, Emma and Matt took up the shorthanded shift and survived it well. In fact they did more than that because a great solo charge from Matt led to the opening goal, 1-0. Encouraged by the goal Macca came charging out of the penalty box, picked up the puck and found Emma in space, her effort was blocked but good determination by Douglas kept MK on the attack. When the puck was cleared, Matt skated the length of the ice to notch number two with about 90 seconds to go in the first. Jordan pulled off a couple of saves after that to keep Swindon scoreless before the break.

 

After a good tackle from Jonathan L, Macca collected and charged down the right wing before seeing a shot saved. Swindon responded but Garth made a good stop and then Ashley, Connor and Emma built an attack between them. Luc got involved but saw his shot saved before Macca stepped in and tucked away MK's third. A minute later Macca fed Emma and she made no mistake, 4-0 and a couple of minutes after that with Brandon in the bin, Matthew and Macauley combined for another shorthanded goal, 5-0.  Then just 3 minutes later Matt hit his third and second shorthanded effort of the day. The final strike of the period saw a lovely passing movement between Macca and Jenifer before Jenny (in her first ever point) supplied Emma for a fine finish, 7-0.

 

Johnathan M took over for the third period and unfortunately his first action was to pick the puck out of net as Swindon got on the scoreboard, 7-1. Storm clearly annoyed at conceding, crashed the net from the face off, Matt touched it back to Thomas and he slid it across the ice to Luc on the far post, 8-1. A minute later it was Dougie at the far post to tap in number 9 after some good work from Luc. Luc again was after number 10 when he rounded the keeper but shot just wide. Macca did get number 10 and Swindon did get a second before the penalties began to mount. MK survived a 4 on 3 then Macca hit his forth from Matthews fifth assist and the game ended 11-2.

 

I was expecting a harder challenge than this but maybe the lads (and lasses) were just up for this one. Straight from the off MK looked liked they wanted the win and duly delivered. Congratulations to Kirsten on her first ever point and to Jenifer in her first game . Next week it's Chelmsford at home before the road trip to Cardiff.

 

 

 

Game Stats

 

 

11:08  1-0 SH          Matt unassisted

13:34  2-0               Matt unassisted

21:43  3-0               Macca unassisted

22:52  4-0               Emma from Macca

25:14  5-0 SH           Macca from Matt

28:11  6-0 SH           Matt unassisted

29:42  7-0               Emma from Jenifer from Macca

30:15  7-1

30:48  8-1               Luc from Thomas from Matt

31:40  9-1               Douglas from Matt from Luc

36:18  10-1              Macca from Matt

38:14  10-2   

44:32  11-2              Macca from Matt

 

 

Shot of Jordan 7 (0) on Jonathan 5 (2) and on Romford 21 (11)

 

MOM: Garth Johnson

 

SOG: Jenifer Gilmore