Jets storm on
Published 4 Mar 2011 10:30
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Ice hockey
SLOUGH Jets avenged last year's semi-final penalty shoot-out loss to Guildford Flames by progressing into the EPL Cup Final at the expense of the Surrey club.
After an 8-4 victory on home ice, Jets lost a narrow encounter 5-4 at the Guildford Spectrum on Wednesday but were comfortable 12-9 winners on aggregate.
Pete Russell's side will now go on to face Basingstoke Bison in the final of the competition, with the first-leg taking place at Planet Ice, Basingstoke on March 9 (7.30pm f/o).
While Jets have had mixed results against their cup final opponents this season, they have enjoyed success over Flames recently and got off to a decent start again on Wednesday evening.
A strong performance from netminder Greg Rockman ensured that Jets maintained their four-goal aggregate lead heading into the first interval and it wasn't until early in the second period that Neil Liddiard struck the first blow for Flames.
Jo Greener replied at the half-way mark to restore parity, and Jets' aggregate lead, but Lukas Smital scored on the powerplay to make it 2-1 on the night.
Again the visitors replied almost instantly, this time through Dan Davies, and a goal from Darius Pliskauskas on 38:04 put them in a commanding position heading into the final period.
Urged on by a 1,500 strong crowd in the Spectrum, Flames came flying out in the third period and they ignited hopes of a remarkable comeback when they scored three times in the space of six minutes.
However, that was to be as close as Guildford would come and Adam Calder provided an assist for Doug Sheppard to round off the scoring on 52:45 and send Jets through to the final.
This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 04 Mar 11
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