Honours even after Metros two-game War of the Roses
Saturday 5th December
Trafford Metros 4 - 3 Sheffield Spartans
Despite going down in the previous game against the Spartans, the Metros were quietly confident approaching the second game against Sheffield. A win tonight would set up an interesting encounter tomorrow in Ice Sheffield. Despite dropping behind by two goals in the first six minutes, Trafford had evened the match at the first buzzer, scored two more by the end of the second and held on under Sheffield pressure to come home by 4 to 3.
The trademark Trafford slow start allowed Sheffield to dominate the early part of the first period, They had jumped to a two goal lead in the fifth and sixth minutes courtesy of Hirst and Morris respectively. The Metros came to life in the tenth minute when Jamie Rogerson scored following up on rebound from a shot by the home side's Man of the match, Brian Worrall with a further assist going to Nick Alley. The Metros were playing their way back into the game and were rewarded when Robyn Crebbin scored with a shot under the Spartans' goalies' arm on the powerplay at 16.43; assist to Rogerson.
The second period began as the first had ended with the Metros taking the game to Sheffield and pulled out to a two goal lead with goals from Worrall at 25.36 (assists to Max Drakeley and Nick Alley) and Tom King at 33.30 (assists to Ashton Jenion and Andy McKinney). Decs Ryan, in the Metros' net was largely a spectator for the period as the Metros outshot the Spartans by 20 shots to 6. The home squad was making chances but not being able to find the net often enough to put the game out of Sheffield's reach.
A more disciplined Spartans team resumed for the third period, despite being outshot again (13 to 5), they managed to cut the lead to a single goal, Morris scoring at 49.33. The Metros had to work very hard to contain the Spartans. A very tense final minute resulted when Sheffield pulled their goalie with 1.07 left followed by the Metros' John Murray taking a tripping penalty with 33 seconds to go. Nevertheless the Metros held on to take a deserved win over the second placed Spartans squad.
A member of the Metros organisation said; "That was a good win in a good game of hockey. They (the Metros) will have to be more focused and follow-up on shots to take advantage of rebounds if they are to take tomorrow's game. Nonetheless, that was two needed points well earned."
Metros Man of the Match: Brian Worrall
Game Stats:
Final Score: Metros 4-3 Spartans
Shots on Goal (shots on Metros first): 21-42
Penalty minutes: Metros 20 Spartans 30.
Metros' stats: Jamie Rogerson 1+1, Brian Worrall 1+1, Robyn Crebbin 1+0, Tom King 1+0, Max Drakeley 0+1, Ashton Jenion 0+1, Andy McKinney 0+1
Nets: Decs Ryan 60mins 20/3 (85%)
Sunday 6th December
Sheffield Spartans 3 - 0 Trafford Metros
Game three of the ENL War of the Roses was the first of the season at Ice Sheffield and the honours were all square. Sheffield changed their netminder and was a more resolute squad than had approached the previous day's game. Equally, the Metros were buoyed by their success and the two squads played another good game but they, and the spectators, had to wait until the second period was practically complete before a goal judge had to light a lamp. Even at 2 nil mid-way through the final period the Metros were in with a shout, but an empty net goal at 58.56 sealed the result in the favour of the White Rose outfit.
The line of Shaun Ashton and Olly and Will Barron proved too hot for the Metros to handle as they combined for all three goals, they bagged a goal each and assisted the others: Ashton at 37.54; Will Barron at 48.14 and, not to be out-done, Olly Barron poached the empty netter at 58.56.
A Metros spokesperson said: "It wasn't a good performance after yesterday. We gave them far too much room in which to skate and with far too many intercepted passes we put ourselves on the back-foot for far too long in the game, particularly in the third. I suppose, looking at the league table, if we'd been offered two points from the weekend we'd have taken them, but, after Saturday we can't help but feel a little disappointed."
Metros Man of the Match: Max Drakeley
Game Stats:
Final Score: Metros 0-3 Spartans
Shots on Goal (shots on Metros first): 36-31
Penalty minutes: Metros 32 Spartans 36.
Nets: Decs Ryan 59.15mins 35/3 (91.43%)
