Published: Thursday, 21st February, 2008 12:32
Dream ends in an instant
By Observer Sport
Comments (0)
Print Article
EPL Cup Final second-leg
Slough Jets 1, Bracknell Bees 3
(Bees win 6-5 on aggregate)
DESPITE being suspended from action, Bracknell Bees head coach Dwight Parrish managed to find a small way to be involved in the EPL Cup-winning goal that sank the Slough Jets last night (Wednesday).
Although it was fellow import Jan Melichar who tucked away the decisive goal during a 4-on-3 powerplay in sudden-death overtime, he was wearing his absent head coach’s number 17 shirt after blood had stained his usual 29 jersey.
It was perhaps the underdog status that spurred Bracknell on to pick up their first win in Slough this season and with it deny the Jets their first silverware in nine years.
The odds were stacked against the reigning English Premier League Champions going into the game. They had given up a one-goal advantage after losing the home leg 4-3 and were without their leader and top defenceman, Parrish, who was banned after picking up a 5+game penalty for high sticks the previous Saturday.
But contrary to their previous two appearances at the Hangar this season, when they were comprehensively outplayed on the smaller ice surface and suffered 6-3 and 8-1 losses, they bossed the early play.
Peter Jasik opened the scoring with a rebound during the first powerplay of the game and, although the score remained at 1-0 at the end of the opening period, the Bees had looked sharper and stronger than their hosts.
This carried into the early stages of the second period and the lead was doubled when Ryan Watt finished between the legs of Jets goalie Dean Skinns before crashing through him and unhinging the goal frame – but the score still stood.
The Jets worked hard to get back into the game and, after initially failing to make the most of their opportunities, began to turn the screw on their opponents as Kurt Reynolds served an interference minor at 35.25.
The Bees somehow held out to kill the powerplay, but could not stop Richard Hargreaves netting a rebound at 39.01 after Tony Redmond had bounced the puck in front of Gregg Rockman with a lobbed pass.
The goal came at the perfect time for the Jets and the momentum instantly swung back towards them with the scores now level on aggregate.
Joe Ciccarello had a guilt-edged opportunity to ram home the advantage just seconds later when he perfectly read the path of the puck as it shot out from a face-off.
Bearing down on goal with only Rockman to beat, the Italian-Canadian dropped the shoulder as he feinted to go on the outside before cutting back across the face of goal and trying to guide the puck around the goalie on the backhand.
But somehow Rockman managed to contort himself into a position to parry the shot wide.
Slough failed to carry this momentum into a tense final period.
As time ticked away, the play became more nervous and defensive challenges more desperate, and it looked increasingly like a mistake would decide the game.
The crucial moment came when Redmond was called up for a hooking penalty on Jasik 3.16 into overtime – and Melichar was clinical when the inevitable opportunity came.
INTERVIEWS AND PHOTOS FROM THE GAME IN TOMORROW’S (FRIDAY) OBSERVER
Live: Burnham 1-0 Winchester City