PAISLEY PIRATES 9 – BELFAST GIANTS 1
Pirates began their home league campaign with a more than comfortable win against a Belfast side which, while showing plenty of effort, couldn’t compete with a home side which moved the puck around with ease, and at times threatened to embarrass the visitors.
The hosts were ahead in only 57 seconds as Brian Miller found the back of the net, and with the visitors under siege, further quick goals by Johnston and Guy meant that by just after the six minute mark they were already three ahead and coasting. They took their collective foot off the pedal a little, but with new signings Liam Riddell and Ciaran Quinn showing up well they still had enough left in the tank to score a fourth before the interval, Chris Turley scoring only a second before the buzzer to give his team a comfortable 4-0 lead at the first break.
The visitors were briefly given a glimmer of hope as Roberts pulled one back two minutes into the second session, but another two trademark Turley goals by the 27th minute, both smashed from the blue line, and which completed his hat trick in the process, ensured that once again the Pirates were able to play possession ice hockey for the remainder of the period, with a handy 6-1 lead in the bank going into the second interval.
The pattern of play was repeated in the final session, as Pirates scored three times through Wilson, McCaig and debutant Quinn, the latter after a mazy skate and backhand finish, to take the score to 9-1, but in spite of continuing to exercise plenty of pressure, they couldn’t quite manage to bring up double figures in a match where they were always well in control, and never in any danger from a spirited, if overpowered, Belfast side.
Pirates will be pleased with their performance and, with a further two signings to boost their ranks, will be looking forward to the visit on league business of the Solway Sharks on Sunday, reverting to their regular face off time of 6.00pm. The two teams will face each other over two legs in the semi finals of the Autumn Cup in a few weeks’ time.