Match Report - Hornets v Mustangs

After an exciting end to the year for the Bracknell Hornets winning 4-3 after a nail biting 5 min extra time which remained goalless and penalty shootout against Guildford on the 29th of December the boys were hoping to carry this momentum into the New Year . The Invicta Mustangs fixture was always going to be a tough challenge for the Hornets especially coming back from the Christmas break and all the festivities which it entails ( secret Santa , say no more...).

The first period got off to a fantastic start with Liam Rasmussen netting after just 45 seconds assisted by Steven Fisher and Will Stead, soon after this Daniel Clayton popped in a rebound off a Connor Hutchinson shot, the period ended two nil to the Hornets.  Things were looking promising however our hangover materialised in the second period with Invicta coming out chasing every puck and finishing every hit and they were rewarded with a nice finish from Anthony Baskerville, flowing locks and all.  The pressure continued and they soon tied the game at two apiece when Jack Rowland scored from close range. However the boys took a breath and regrouped with Connor Hutchinson banging in his own rebound with the assist going to Will  Stead whilst shorthanded. Just to add to the drama the boys found themselves in penalty troubleand the game was tied at 3-3 with a power play goal from Joe Bliss .

The deadlock remained in to the 3rd period until Josh Ealey-Newman scored to take the lead with an assist going to Danny Hughes and Adam Bicknell. The game was very tightly contested and tempers overflowed when Harvey Hind-Pitcher and Aaron Ferris dropped the gloves after a dubious late hit on a Hornet player, with just three minutes left in the period Jack Tarczycki made a nice little dangle from defence which resulted in a fine solo goal (married life definitely seems to be agreeing with him) to give the Hornets a two-goal cushion. The Mustangs with a never say die attitude pulled one back from Richard Harris on the powerplay to set up a nail biting finish, however the Hornets held on for a well-deserved two points.

Man of the Match for Bracknell was Connor Hutchison with a fine tally of 1+1 and a well-deserved man of the match performance from Matthew Passmore in the Mustang net. The Hornets know that they will need to be better when they encounter the Romford Junior Raiders at home on the 12th of January 6pm face off.

The top four play-off spot are still up for grabs and this is another important game for the Hornets who currently sit in fifth place in the league your vocal support as always is needed so please join us for the game next week. 

Stats: Tarczycki 1+1, Hutchison 1+1, Stead 0+2, Sheehan 0+1, Clayton 1+0, Fisher 0+1, Bicknell 0+1, Rasmussen 1+0, Hughes 0+1, J.Ealey-Newman 1+0

NMs: H (BH) &Trendall (SD)) 88.24% & Mustangs: Passmore 59:39 29(5) 82.76% & Empty Net 0:21 0(0)

MOTM: Hutchison (BH) & Passmore (IM)

Match Reported by Lee Ealey-Newman