Trafford Metros 5 – Nottingham Lions 3

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This game started with the pairing of the two senior clubs in Manchester coming together with 2 of the Phoenix’s under 21 players icing for the Metros in the shape of Josh Ward and Ciaran Long. This was the first league game for the Metros this year and with some of the faithful attending the Metros lads didn’t want to disappoint, and they didn’t!

I took just over a Minute for Jamie Rogerson to connect on the side of the net with a pass from Ciaran Long for the Metros to take a 1-0 Lead with a shorthanded marker. For the Most of the First the Metros outskated the Lions and kept them hemmed in their own zone until just before the 10 minute mark when the Lions hit the net to level the scoring . The rest of period saw the Metros put relentless pressure on the Lions Net minder who saved 16 out of 17 shots the Metros put on him and we went into the break level.

The Second saw the Metros get off to a shaky start and the conceded 2 goals in 6 minutes to put the Lions up 3-1. But in true Metro spirit the Lads battled back and didn’t let each other down! On the 32 minute mark a goal mouth scramble saw Oliver Bayne combine with Jamie Rogerson to slot home the second marker for the Metros, then 5 minutes later Jamie Slotted home his second of the night in the high slot from a pin point pass from Josh Ward. So we again went into the next period all square at 3-3.

The third period was the highlight of the night and saw the Metros out shoot the Lions 12-3 and have total dominance in both offence and defence but that wasn’t all! The action started at the 52 minute mark when Ben Wood of the Nottingham Lions hit Jake Nurse from Behind into the board behind the Lions Goal, and with team spirit coursing through the Metros veins they weren’t going to stand for it and all 10 players on the ice dropped the gloves and went at it. But as a result the Metros came out with a 5 on 3 power play. Not seven seconds had passed when Ciaran Long received a 2 minute minor for Holding the Stick and saw the Power play go to a 4 on 3 but this didn’t phased the Metros and just a minute later Josh Ward Fired home the go ahead goal for the Metros with an assist from Oliver Bayne. The Metros then got into a bit of penalty trouble but their defence held firm and with 1 second left on the clock Ciaran Long fired home and empty net goal from a long pass by Max Drakeley.

A gutsy and well earned victory for the Metros and I don’t think anyone who attended had anything bad to say about the hockey that the Metros played, they played with passion true team spirit and kept going until the final whistle. Well Done to the Metros in their first win of the season in the opening game for the league!

Stats:

Scoring: Jamie Rogerson 2+1, Oliver Bayne 1+1, Josh Ward 1+1, Ciaran Long 1+1, Max Drakeley 0+1
PIM’s : Metros 52 Lions 46
Shots on Goal: Metros on Lions 44
Lions on Metros 22

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