A Third Period Too Far for the Mets
The Mets made a very murky trip along the M6 and A50 to face Nottingham last Sunday. To most people's surprise, the Lions have been hovering around the play-off relegation place all season and, for Nottingham, that isn't acceptable. The boys knew they were in for tough game despite the Lions' recent results. And so it proved.
Despite what was at stake and a competitive game, only three minor penalties were needed throughout the match: two against Nottingham and one on the Metros. There were opportunities for both sides but no goals until the third period. Although looking for Trafford goals we were hoping that Dave Clancy's first game as a new Metros would produce a prized shut-out. It wasn't to be: at 47 minutes his net was breached by a shot deflected off a defensive stick. Things got worse when, on the Lions one and only power-play after a further five minutes, another deflection, off a pad this time, nipped into the Trafford net. Despite pulling Clancy for the final 45 seconds off the game, the extra Mets' skater couldn't get a goal that may have made the difference.
For this game the team welcomed back into the fold another product of the Devonshire Road and Phoenix junior system, Jason Pirie, for his first game in three years. He was outstanding and fully deserved the accolade of the Mets' Man of the Match.
The Nottingham trip was the only the second time that the Metros had been shut out all season. Oddly, the other team to manage the feat was Coventry Blaze, the other contender for the relegation play-off spot.
Next home game: v Sheffield Spartans. Saturday 25th February face-off at 5.15pm
