News Report

Cup Semi-Finals!

Chieftains have a tough weekend but they battled hard

• admin
• 30 January 2024

It was time for some cup action over the weekend! The Chieftains had already played the first leg on Saturday, where they lost 6-3. Could the Chieftains beat Slough with a big enough goal difference to get us into the finals?

The previous night's game had been pretty physical, with a fair few penalties, and as the warm-up was under way, those tensions were visible for all to see. Slough were goding the Chieftains on the centre line, and their tactics were obvious....to wind up and rile the team before the game had even started.

As the puck dropped for the first period, the Riverside looked full, and the crowd immediately got behind the Chieftains. It was going to be a big ask from the team, but it was definitely doable. The Chieftains made the first initial attacks, but the Slough Jets made a rush on goal. At 01:59, Connor Redmond from Slough was able to get the puck in the back of the Chieftains net. Coach Cliff was shouting at the team from the bench, this was not the start we'd all hoped for. It was 0-1. The Chieftains managed to reset themselves, and again, the crowd showed their support by getting behind them. The play was end-to-end, with both teams having chances and being very evenly matched. At 8:13, an attack was made by the Chieftains. Slough defended, and Lack passed the puck to Grant Bartlett, who then passed it back to Dan Hitchings (who was just over the centre line). Dan struck the puck and somehow managed to weave it past the Slough defence and netminder. He'd scored! It was now 1-1. The game was becoming more physical, and penalties started to creep in. At 10:23, Cam Bartlett got 2 minutes for hooking, followed shortly after by Jay King with a penalty for slashing at 12:04. It was 5 on 3. At 12:18, Jacob Minter was able to score a powerplay goal, this was then followed by another powerplay goal from Slough at 12:52, scored by Christian Mohr, it was now 1-3. The Chieftains called for a time out, the game was creeping away from them! At 14:52, assisted by Damon Porter and Dan Fay, Hallden Barnes Garner was able to get his first goal of the night, it was now 2-3 (5-9 on agg). The play continued to be end-to-end, the physicality increased, and at 16:34, it all boiled over. Cameron Bartlett managed to break free and make a charge on Slough's netminder. Cam appeared to be tripped and slid across the ice. Grant came around the back of the net heading towards Cameron, but two Slough players charged into Grant at the same time, sandwiching him, and knocked him down to the ice. Jemma was rushed onto the ice to look after Grant, who was still lying down. The referees separated the crowd of players, and Cameron was put in the sinbin first, followed by Smital for Slough. The home crowd was shouting "Off! Off! Off!" demanding that Smital be sent off, and after lots of deliberation, Smital was finally sent off, but so was Cameron. They both received 5 minutes for fighting as well as a game penalty. The first period finished 2-3, Lawday faced 14 shots, and Slough faced 9.

The second period started, and the Chieftains tried to gain better control of the game. However, there were lots of penalties being called, and the second period was becoming a very "stop-start" affair. This was making it an even bigger challenge for the team, and the home crowd was becoming frustrated with the referee. For the Chieftains, it was definitely a better period than the first, but they just didn't look like scoring. It has to be mentioned at this point that it had taken nearly 2 hours to get to the end of the second period, highlighting how many stoppages there were. The period finished the same as the first, it was 2-3 (5-9 on agg). Lawday faced 11 shots, and the Slough netminder faced 16.

For the third and final period, it was all to play for. As the Chieftains came out onto the ice, the crowd cheered and tried their best to show their support for the team. It appeared to take effect. As the puck dropped, the Chieftains went straight on the attack, they looked focused, and with only 18 seconds being played, Damon Porter was able to score a great goal at 40:18 to set the Riverside rocking (assisted by Grant Bartlett and Tommy Huggett). It was now 3-3, and the attacking play continued. The Chieftains really had the bit between their teeth, almost stunning Slough with the change of play. The period was turning out to be the polar opposite of the first, as the Chieftains were starting to take control. At 48:39, Daniel Fay got a 2-minute penalty for holding, but this didn't deter the attacking play from the Chieftains. At 49:22, assisted by Damon Porter, Hallden Barnes-Garner was able to score the second of his night with a stunning short-handed goal. The Riverside was definitely rocking, and the fans started to believe. It was now 4-3 (7-9 on agg). Slough looked nervous and were defending heavily, time was running out for the Chieftains. As the final minutes were being played, the Chieftains were keeping possession and building attacks. Jordan Lawday was pulled from the net for the last assault. However, Slough managed to gain possession and make a charge on the empty net. The Chieftains defended heavily, and Slough missed a shot on an empty goal, but at 59:34, Lewis English was able to score, and the period finished 4-4 (7-10 on agg). Slough had confirmed their place in the Finals.

Hallden Barnes-Garner was awarded Man of the Match in acknowledgment of both his goals. Well done, Hallden!

We go again on Sunday for some league action against the Solent Devils. We look forward to seeing you at the Riverside very soon.

If you'd like to see the stats for the game, just click here.

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