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The Inferno
NIHL1 Devils roundup- Wightlink Raiders
9th Oct 2012 | Posted by Geraint Walters
The Cardiff NIHL Devils returned to action at the BBT this Sunday when they welcomed Jeremy Cornish’s Wightlink Raiders to town. The Raiders have built a reputation of being a big hitting, intimidating side built in their head coaches image and Cardiff braced themselves for a aggressive opening period. However the visitors started surprisingly tame and just stuck strictly to their attack spoiling tactics to try and prevent the creative Cardiff side from playing their flowing hockey and then hit on the counter attack. The system seemed to have mixed success, it seemed to stagnant the start for the Devils who were a little slower out the blocks than in recent weeks but they still managed to carve out several good attacking plays culminating in good shooting chances. Wightlink too had the occasional chance but the 1st period was one for goalkeeping enthusiasts, with both Brabon in the Cardiff net and Colcough in the Raiders keeping clean sheets and putting on a master class in the technical art.
Second period and it was very much more of the same. No question the Devils were carving out more opportunities but there seemed no way passed the excellent Colcough. If fact it took a special moment from an ex-Devils player Corey Watkins to break the deadlock, Brabon eventually being beaten by a shot the deflected off Dixon stick to Watkins on the back post who managed to bat the puck out the air after if came back in front of the net off of his knee. The home side probed for an equaliser but just seemed to lack that killer punch to tuck away the guilt edged chances being created.
Final period and the Devils pushed on and upped the tempo of the game. They were extremely unlucky to fall further behind when a screen shot from the point that was going just wide caught a nick off the paddle of Brabon’s stick to deflect into the home side net. 2-0 down against one of the leagues tipped title favourites and things looked ominous for the aspiring Devils. However buoyed by the fact they had been playing the better hockey they pushed even harder to remain in the game. The opportunity presented it self on the power play and Louis Lockwood got the goal that they so desperately needed. Within 2 minutes they were level when the excellent Lockwood scored his second of the game from low in the slot. With their tails well and truly up the Cardiff side pressed hard and found themselves ahead shortly after. Cornish and Fisher had been dispatched to the penalty bin for an off the puck scuffle and the 4 on 4 play provided the home sides speedy players to use the extra room on the ice. Scarbrough split the D-men who scrambled to bring him down, as they caught him the puck fell to Osman who had been following in and tucked away the shot. Now it was Wightlink’s turn to try and force the game and a defensive lapse allowed Import Hazal in to one time home a cross ice pass. More drama was to ensue, as a penalty shot was awarded for a defensive player covering the puck in the crease and Brabon came up big to track Robbie Brown as he attempted to round the keeper. It was to finish 3-3 with the point feeling a little bit like a loss for the Devils, who had fought hard to come from behind to lead. The Raiders happy to take a point from a grinding road performance. A good sign for the Devils that they feel disappointed at sharing the spoils to one of leagues big guns.
Second period and it was very much more of the same. No question the Devils were carving out more opportunities but there seemed no way passed the excellent Colcough. If fact it took a special moment from an ex-Devils player Corey Watkins to break the deadlock, Brabon eventually being beaten by a shot the deflected off Dixon stick to Watkins on the back post who managed to bat the puck out the air after if came back in front of the net off of his knee. The home side probed for an equaliser but just seemed to lack that killer punch to tuck away the guilt edged chances being created.
Final period and the Devils pushed on and upped the tempo of the game. They were extremely unlucky to fall further behind when a screen shot from the point that was going just wide caught a nick off the paddle of Brabon’s stick to deflect into the home side net. 2-0 down against one of the leagues tipped title favourites and things looked ominous for the aspiring Devils. However buoyed by the fact they had been playing the better hockey they pushed even harder to remain in the game. The opportunity presented it self on the power play and Louis Lockwood got the goal that they so desperately needed. Within 2 minutes they were level when the excellent Lockwood scored his second of the game from low in the slot. With their tails well and truly up the Cardiff side pressed hard and found themselves ahead shortly after. Cornish and Fisher had been dispatched to the penalty bin for an off the puck scuffle and the 4 on 4 play provided the home sides speedy players to use the extra room on the ice. Scarbrough split the D-men who scrambled to bring him down, as they caught him the puck fell to Osman who had been following in and tucked away the shot. Now it was Wightlink’s turn to try and force the game and a defensive lapse allowed Import Hazal in to one time home a cross ice pass. More drama was to ensue, as a penalty shot was awarded for a defensive player covering the puck in the crease and Brabon came up big to track Robbie Brown as he attempted to round the keeper. It was to finish 3-3 with the point feeling a little bit like a loss for the Devils, who had fought hard to come from behind to lead. The Raiders happy to take a point from a grinding road performance. A good sign for the Devils that they feel disappointed at sharing the spoils to one of leagues big guns.
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