Sheffield B @ Nottingham Mavericks (B Team)

 21/10/06

This match was always set to be a touch grudge match between two rival teams. With news that the Bears had a strong squad this season the Mavericks knew that they would have to dig in from the outset.

The first period began with strict refereeing taking its toll on both teams. For the Mavericks it was myself who took the first penalty just 3.46 into the game, shortly after Neil Curtis found his way into the box on the account of roughing, followed by his D partner Rich Renshaw. The mavericks were unable to create any offensive opportunities in this penalty stricken period. The first ended at 0-0 with Alex Lacy in the box serving a cross checking penalty.

Going into the second the Mav’s knew that they had to keep it clean and try and focus on the offensive side of the game. Speed was the key in this period; this was proven by the strong skating of the Nottingham forwards. The period saw end to end action with Goalie Dave Crowther facing many fierce attempts on net. With the sheer amount of shots taking its toll on Crowther the netminding duties were handed over to Zoe Cowen-Vince. As the team pushed on they found themselves rewarded with the opening goal, coming from Rick Symes assisted by myself and Anna Cooper. However the Mav’s were unable to keep the pressure on and the Bears soon bounced back to take the period 3-1.

An exhausted Nottingham team entered the 3rd with the belief that they could turn this game around. However the tired legs of the Mav’s defence resulted in the floodgates opening; Sheffield shots poured onto the Nottingham net, with these shots came goals. Frustration started to show as penalties came from Paul Williamson and Luke Moody, the game began to slip away from the Mav’s. The Bears began to dictate the flow of the game and easily finished Nottingham off, taking the final period 5-0.

The final result 8-1.