Milton Keynes Storm Under 18s (Division 2)

 Result:             4^th November 2007. MK Storm 8 v Haringey Wolves 3

(2-2, 0-1, 6-0)

Milton Keynes overcame league leaders Haringey this weekend to serve notice of their serious promotion credentials. The final score suggests a comfortable result, but before some timely line changes in the final break, MK were facing a second home defeat, and the effective end of any serious title challenge.

MK had started the match well, skating hard and passing sharply to expose the visitor's general lack of mobility. Haringey had to rely heavily upon the efforts of netminder Maby, but after a lengthy phase of MK attacking play, even he could not stop Martyn Snape's point-blank effort (11:16) from a solid David Coffey pass. Entirely against the run of play, Haringey equalized with a breakaway effort (12:55), but MK continued to dominate the match. David Coffey set up Jamie Cox on the left flank, and his quickly taken shot was smartly finished on the rebound by Snape (17:07). Moments later Haringey drew level again on the breakaway (18:48), and despite controlling the period, MK went into the first break without an advantage.

The second period could not have gone worse for MK. Their work rate dropped alarmingly, and earlier teamwork and passing practically vanished, to be replaced by ponderous single-handed efforts. As MK confidence evaporated, so Haringey's soared, and it was no surprise when the visitors took the lead in the final minutes of the period (36:13). Only some desperate defence, and a series of solid saves from Chris Chaplen in the MK nets, kept the hosts in the match at all.

Emergency line surgery and some stern words from the coaching staff during the break had a dramatic effect upon MK, and they roared into attack from the face off. With Haringey now under serious pressure, they were soon short-handed. Coffey drove determinedly down the centre, and his pass to Josh Nicklin in the right corner, was swiftly presented to a jubilant Jacob Heron (44:08) in front of goal. MK poured on the pressure, and after a lengthy spell in the Haringey defensive zone, Harry Bowers shot for Harrison Goode (45:52) to snap up the rebound. Moments later Snape (46:45) completed his hat trick, courtesy of a smart finish, and a howling error by a Haringey defence now close to meltdown. MK showed no mercy, and when Nicklin drove down the left he found Connor Goode in the corner, whose clean pass to brother Harrison (48:48) was clinically finished in front. The visitors tried desperately to respond, but MK looked rock solid in defence, and when Ross Green shot from the blue line, Cox (55:53) was on hand to deflect home his first goal of the match. With the visitors in tatters, Harrison Goode (56:13) completed the scoring, and a well-deserved hat-trick for himself, with a splendid single-handed effort.

The extraordinary turnaround of MK fortunes in the final period should give them great confidence for the remainder of the season. If they retain the discipline, speed and determination of this remarkable twenty minutes, no team in this league should be able to live with them. Their promotion campaign is now firmly back on track, and a trip to Streatham on Sunday will give them ample opportunity to prove it.

MoM:  Martyn Snape

Shots on Goal: MK 37 Haringey 25 (Chris Chaplen MK N/M)