Hornets v Fire Match Report

The Hornets welcomed Cardiff to the nest on Fireworks weekend and this one certainly had all the sparks flying in a game full of explosions and penalty minutes.

The home side we’re looking to avenge the 19 goal O/T thriller from a couple of weeks ago but things didn’t go to plan when Tamas Elias put the visitors ahead on 4 minutes with a fantastic solo effort that left Sanderson with no chance. Hoping to get straight back in the game chances fell to Hughes and Fisher but Douglas was in fine form from the start, things got worse for Bracknell when Ealey-Newman (Ben) took a hooking penalty on 7 minutes allowing Morris & Deacon combining well teeing up Elis Sheppard who extended the lead to 0-2. The next five minutes were fast paced and chances fell to both sides with neither able to light the lamp yet both teams took penalties. It was the home team who took the advantage when Jackson, Ealey-Newman (Ben) and Fisher moved the puck quickly on the Fires line change resulting in the latter bringing the deficit to one goal, just 5 minutes later Hind-Pitcher sent a perfect weighted pass to Hughes who unleashed his trade mark slap shot that fired past Douglas ending the first period all square at 2-2.

The home side still had a man advantage starting the second when Hind-Pitcher was involved again with Fojtik finding the D-man in space who played it forward to Fisher to grab his second, minutes later it was Hughes’ chance to grab his second of the night after Jordan had won the puck with sheer determination and released the forward who obliged without hesitation extending the lead to 4-2 and turning the game completely. Fire certainly weren’t about to give up and battled every puck although Douglas was clearly the busier but came up with the answer on more than one occasion. After yet another batch of penalties it was the visitors who kept it interesting when Jackson Price closed the gap to 4-3 after good work from Bryant and Powell. Too close for comfort at this stage and keen to regain the 2 goal lead Tarczycki won the puck and fed Fisher in space who secured his hat trick with another fine finish ending the second 5-3 in the Hornets favour.

Bracknell Hornets with Rob Pennington from Thames Valley Signs

Unusually the 3rd was end to end with save after save from the NMs, (and in all honesty, each player on the ice must’ve had a least one effort on goal) but it remained goalless in the final 20. The fire certainly were the better side in the final third and showed why they are taking teams right to the buzzer, but as in recent weeks the Hornets showed they were organised, structured and defended with everything they had to keep the lead. One of the biggest talking points was the fisticuffs between Sheehan and Sheppard which started well with both throwing blows, but it was a clean peach of a shot from the Fire forward that ended it early leaving Sheehan with no chance. The game continued at the same pace that the crowd had witnessed from the start and was feisty until the finish with both benches trying to get at each other. After what seemed the longest 2 minutes ever the final buzzer sounded and it was the home fans who enjoyed it more with the points in the bag.

Jackson 0+1, Tarczycki 0+1, Fisher 3+0, Hughes 2+0, Jordan 0+1, Hind-Pitcher 0+2, B.Ealey-Newman 0+1, Fojtik 0+1.

NMs : Sanderson 37(3) 91.89% (BH) & Douglas 35(5) 85.71% (CF)

MOTM : Fisher (BH) & Douglas (CF)

Match report written by Justin Wilson