Isles crash out to Wildcats

The Islanders faced off against the Whitley Wildcats last Saturday 15th March 2008 in a late 10:30pm face off at the Hillheads rink.

A short bench of players turned out for the Isles with James Latimer starting in goal.

In a chippy game from the start the Islanders struggled to get going despite scoring a quick opener from Tom Glazzard at 0:08 assisted Richardson.

The Wildcats applied pressure using that hideous but effective dump and chase play, leaving 2 skaters up high for the long bomb from their defense.

The lack of a fore check from the Islanders allowed this play to develop too much and at 07:00 the Wildcats scored Shreeve from Park.

In a tight game it took 10 mins for the Islanders to respond - Paul Scott from Cowey at 17:10

Score 2-1 Islanders end of the first.

The second period played on much like the first with neither side showing any type of finesse or clever play.

The Wildcats went a goal up following dismal Islanders defending, Shreeve at 23:19 and then Darby at 25:29 opened up a lead.

Yet the Islanders dug in and managed to claw 2 goals back before the end of the period, Tom Glazzard at 35:08, and Anth Richardson at 36:15 rounded of the second period.

Score 4-3 Islanders, end of the second.

The 3rd period was all Wildcats as they heaped on the pressure on a lack lustre Islanders.

The Wildcats scored 2 unanswered from Shreeve(45:47) and Gosling (43:24) to open another lead.

Then the hinge point of the game - Islanders netminder James Latimer went ballistic following a slash to his hand at 51:11.

The result of the ensuing altercation was an early shower for Latimer leaving the Islanders with no netminder for the remaining 8 minutes of the game.

The Islanders had 10 mins to dress another player - David Cowey volunteered to strap on the pads.

The game then resumed after a delay and Wildcats went to town on the Islanders netminder shooting from all angles.

A goal at 53:33 from Elgie was responded to by the Islanders at 53:55 - Richy Crowe from Richardson and Haslam.

Wildcats Michael Park found the net at 54:03, 55:41 to open up the lead again.

Another strike from the Islanders at 57:16 - Anth Richardson from Scott and Tim Richardson helped close the lead.

But 3 more stikes from Park at 57:43, 58:00 and 58:19 closed off the game as time ran out for the Islanders.

Final score Wilcats 11 - Islanders 6.

Coaches Comment:

"That was a shitty way to lose a game of hockey."

"We gave them far too much time and space with the puck... and failed to execute our chances when we got them."

"Fair play to the Wildcats they stuck in and cleaned us out when they had their chance."

"But hey, we will be back to give those guys another game very soon!"

Man of the match awards went to Paul Scott for the Islanders and John Shreeve for the Wildcats.

Full stats from the game can be found here