Blackpool Seagulls ice hockey team took a prestigious scalp as they beat Scottish visitors Paisley Blackhawks 9-8 with a last minute goal in a highly entertaining game at the Subzero Ice Arena In Cleveleys.
Saturday 8th December 2012Blackpool Seagulls 9 - Paisley Blackhawks 8Period Scores: 1-3, 4-3, 4-2
Penalties In Minutes: Seagulls 14 - Paisley 6
Seagulls Scorers: #58 Craig Ainscough 4+2
#10 Bobby Hall 2+1
#42 Adam Holt 2+0
#17 Duncan Wrigley 1+0
#55 Harry Hall 0+3
#15 Mark Singer 0+2
#77 Gary Shearman 0+1
MVPs: Seagulls #29 Darryl Kenyon, Paisley #54 Andrew Watson
Report (note:humourous...)The match was preceded by a 1 minute silence in memory of former Seagulls player Dennis Burdekin, in the presence of guests of honour for the evening, Dennis's daughters Tracey, Alison, Jane and Susan, accompanied by Tony.
With Seagulls' top scoring partnership of Danny Jones and Joe Charlton having moved on to play in the NHL (sorry - that should read NIHL.......) much was expected of new draftees Craig Ainscough and Harry Hall and they certainly delivered with 4+5 between them.
However, the first period went to the highly fancied Blackhawks, who opened the scoring after just 26 seconds. Aincough equalised 4 minutes later only for the visitors to retake the lead almost immediately and then pull further ahead to lead 1-3 after 20 minutes.
It was beginning to look rather ominious at start of the second period as the visitors scored again to take a commmanding 1-4 lead.
Then the Seagulls decided to adopt a new tactic and mysteriously began playing better short handed than when at full strength...! Heineken League veteran Stefano Simi masterminded this game plan by getting himself two 2 minute penalties in quick succession during which the Seagulls scored 4 goals...
The visitors hit back with two more of their own to finish the period in front again at 5-6 but by now the home crowd was simmering with expectation.
At 5-6 down there appeared much cause for optimism in the 3rd period but this was immediately quashed by an own goal in the 41st minute, although there is no such thing as an "own goal" in ice hockey and the score was credited to the last attacking player to touch the puck : 5-7 to Paisley.
But then the Seagulls' pressure began to pay off - maybe the visitors were getting a little tired following their their long journey down from Scotland and a shortage of numbers on the bench...
First Adam Holt pulled a goal back in the 44th minute - 6-7. Then Duncan Wrigley equalised (49th minute) 7-7, Then Adam Holt again in the 51st minute to put Seagulls ahead for the first time in the game 8-7!
The game was on a knife edge.The Seagulls called a timeout. Then Paisley hit back to equalise - 8-8 in the 55th minute. Of all the games of ice hockey I have seen in almost 30 years this finale was one of the tensest I have witnessed....
57.33: Duncan Wrigley and his Paisley opposite number take 2 minutes each for roughing. 58.32: another Paisley player goes ot the Penalty Box - this is only their 3rd penalty of the game but Seagulls are now 4 on 3 and absolutely on fire...!
58.00: Announcer forgets to announce "last two minutes in the third and final period..."
58.58: Harry Hall and Craig Aincough combine for Ainscough's 4th goal of the game - Seagulls hit a dramatic late winner and it's now 9-8!
The last minute also held a few tense moments as with just 10 seconds to go Seagulls took another penalty. Paisley now had a man advantage and pulled their netminder off to have another attacking player on the ice. The final few seconds ticked away - the hooter sounded - the crowd went wild - a winning end to 2012 for the Blackpool Seagulls.
Official website: www.blackpoolseagulls.co.uk Photos by Scott Hislop (Paisley player)
