Paisley Pirates news and reviews

Paisley Pirates take a break from league action this weekend, but the task facing them could
hardly be more difficult, as they travel to Dundee this Sunday to take on the local Comets in
the first round (first leg) of the Scottish Cup, a competition which has seen the two clubs
meet in the final in the past two seasons, the Tayside club coming out as victors on both
occasions.

Pirates lost narrowly by four goals to three against highly fancied Murrayfield Racers last
Sunday in Edinburgh, and will need to put in a similar level of performance if they hope to
overcome a Comets side who beat them heavily in the league at Braehead Arena earlier in
the season, their only home reverse to date.
Head Coach Ian Turley commented, “We enter different territory this weekend with Scottish
Cup action to look forward to, and with the tie being over two legs a lot can happen during
the six periods which will be played. I guess this tie is a bit special in that both teams have
met in the final in the past two seasons, but only one team can make it through this time
around.”
The tie will take place at Dundee Ice Arena, facing off at 7.30pm, whole the second leg will
go ahead at Braehead Arena the following Sunday, 20 January, with a 5.00pm start, and
Pirates will be looking to bring the tie back to Renfrewshire with everything still to play for.

MURRAYFIELD RACERS 4 PAISLEY PIRATES 3

Pirates travelled to Edinburgh missing several key players but nevertheless contributed fully
to a thriller, before eventually going down by the odd goal in seven to a Racers side laden
with players with Elite League experience..
The home side got off to the better start and were a goal ahead before the five minute mark
as Gautschi netted short handed. Pirates recovered from this setback and were level after
their next powerplay opportunity two minutes later as Abercrombie combined with Guy to
beat McGill and score against his former side. With chances coming up at both ends it was
the hosts who went ahead after thirteen minutes and it was Gautschi again, with his second
goal of the night, who beat Russell to put Racers ahead on the powerplay. With no further
scoring in the session the sides headed for the dressing rooms with Murrayfield holding a
narrow 2-1 advantage after a tight 20 minutes.
Play continued as before in the middle period and while Racers had the early pressure, it
was in fact Pirates who equalised in the 26 th minute with an unassisted goal from Mikey
Dobson. This time Racers came back strongly and took the lead for the third time four
minutes later through Boyd. Once again, both sides had opportunities to alter the scoreline,
but with the respective goals remining intact, Racers hung on to their narrow one goal
advantage to lead at 3-2.
Pirates came out for the final session looking for a third equaliser and they got it with less
than two minutes on the clock, as Abercrombie combined with Guy once more for the former
Racer to net his second of the night and tie the scores at 3-3. The game continued to ebb
and flow at both ends of the ice, but just before the halfway point in the period it was that
man Gautschi who completed his hat trick with what proved to be the game winning goal,
breaking the hearts of the visitors who had put in a sterling performance, only to come away
with nothing at the end of the day.

Pirates will be pleased with their gutsy performance, if not the final outcome, and will be
looking to carry that form into this Saturday’s Scottish Cup first round, first leg tie away to
Dundee Comets in a repeat of last year’s final. The match faces off at 7.30pm, with the
second leg taking place at Braehead Arena on Sunday, 20 January (face off 5.00pm).