PIRATES SNUFF OUT COMETS

DUNDEE COMETS   2          PAISLEY PIRATES   5     

A late surge from Pirates in the final session took them past a Comets side which, in spite of having less of the play than their visitors, had been in front after two periods, when the latter had been unable to capitalise on their chances.

The visitors had an early chance on a powerplay to go in front, but Michie in the Comets’ goal was equal to any threat posed by Pirates, and, similarly, when Jordan sat out a minor penalty before the halfway point in the period, the latter’s rearguard saw off any threat to their goal. Pirates’ presence in the Dundee end looked to be gaining no advantage, but in the 15^th minute Campbell fired in a shot which Michie got an arm to, but he couldn’t stop the Paisley forward’s effort going over the line, to give his team a lead which they held to the first buzzer, when in fact , they possibly could have been further in front on the balance of play.

In the middle session, the flow of play continued towards Michie, and Pirates should have been two in front within a minute of the restart as play opened up in front of the home goal, only for Wilson to miss his shot completely with an empty net beckoning, The visitors were made to pay for the lost chance as with almost 30 minutes gone the scores were level as Gold tied the match up at one apiece. Paisley continued to have the better of the exchanges but while weaving pretty patterns up the ice, their final efforts were leaving Michie untroubled, and with less than 3 minutes of the session remaining Comets were ahead through Gold, leaving the visitors wondering how they could have so much of the play, but finding themselves behind at 2-1 going into the final session.

Coach Ian Turley’s team talk clearly had an effect on his team, as they entered the final 20 minutes with renewed vigour, and a Chris Turley blue liner on a powerplay escaped Michie to tie the scores with almost 45 minutes on the clock. The Comets were beginning to tire, as a result of the constant pressure they were under, and just after 50 minutes Pirates were ahead as Campbell gleefully fired home an Orr pass for the go-ahead goal. In under half a minute the advantage was doubled as Bain, a constant thorn in the flesh of the Comets’’ defence in the latter stages, deceived Michie with a shot which went under him and the lead was two. Pirates were on the powerplay again as the overworked Comets’ defence took more penalties, and with the hosts searching for a goal to get them back in the game, they pulled Michie with over a minute remaining. However, in spite of having the extra skater, Comets couldn’t get out of their own zone with Pirates continuing to press, and in the final minute a mishit pass went straight to Chris Wilson who wasted no time in firing home for the proverbial icing on the cake.

Pirates will be pleased to have come away with a convincing 5-2 at the end of 60 minutes, but will be a little concerned about giving their hosts hope of pulling off a win when, on the basis on the balance of play, they should not have been in the game. However, the performance of some of the less experienced players in the squad will be pleasing to coach Ian Turley. They face another testing road trip next Sunday when they head east once again to take on the reigning SNL champions, Kirkcaldy Kestrels, in a match which will put them under the closest possible scrutiny.

Scorers: Campbell (2+0), Turley, Bain & Wilson (all 1+0), Orr & Miller (both 0+2), Spiers (0+1)

Penalties: Jordan, Blair & Orr (all 4), Johnston & Bain (both 2)

Shots on Goal:            Mecchan (18 saves from 20 shots)

Michie (31 saves from 36 shots)

PIRATES’ MAN OF THE MATCH: Chris Turley

admin

See Full Bio