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Rockets go High !
13th Nov, 2007
Game Vs Manchester Phoenix at Telford
Saturday 10.11.07 FO 15.15 - 3x 15 minute Periods.
The Rockets go HIGH!!
Three games and five points place the Rockets are in a great position at the start of this season. Manchester are currently in second place but have played one more game than the Rockets. They are a little of an unknown as they come into the A league for the first time this season. A win today could put the local team into second place behind the leaders Nottingham who have played 5 and won 5 with 10 points and only 30 goals for and 3 against - showing them to be a strong team in depth from forwards, D and a great net minder. Definitely the toughest match ahead when we meet at home on December 1st.
With a great win against Sheffield last time out the Rockets opened up with bags of confidence. Alternative incursions into each teams half was the order of play for the first few minutes. Both sides checking each others positional play - it was going to be a barn storming game. Manchester were not going to lie down as the took the first goal at 4.58. Shooting the puck through traffic unsighted Ben Hunt who had no chance to see the puck coming.
The Rockets were now on the back foot and had to respond as they normally do on these occasions. Somehow they managed to dominate the next few minutes of play and in true style equalised in just over 2 minutes. A neat sideline pass from Mike Steventon saw Luke Brittle shoot the puck past the Manchester goalie to light up the lamp. Game ON !!!
This was going to be a very competitive game and Manchester were not giving up early. It took the Rockets just 4 more minutes to take the second goal. Mike Steventon putting it away assisted by Paul Rigby. Penalties began to flow from each side as the game became a little physical. Two calls against the Rockets for tripping by Andrew Whitehouse and roughing by Luke Brittle but the Phoenix on a power play 69 second from the end of the first period - The period finished at 2-1 to the Rockets - back to the bench for some serious team talk !!
The second period opened with the Phoenix wanting to capitalise on 5 on 4 play and they succeeded in only 21 second from the start of play to make it 2 all. Over the next few minutes Manchester were on a high and pushing the Rockets deep into their defence zone - shots were raining down on Ben Hunt who managed to keep the score sheet clean to go in at end of the second period 2-2.
A time out called by the Rockets bench had to advise the team to play 3 in defence as Manchester were not going home yet! The Rockets desperately tried to take the game by the scruff of the puck and were rewarded by a goal midway through the final period. At 38.31 a pass from Andrew Whitehouse was collected by Paul Rigby who stormed to the Mancherter net and lifted a screamer past the the surprised Phoenix goalie to go 3-2 up. The Rocket supporters went wild. Cheers could be heard over lake side outside the rink.
With a last ditch effort Manchester pulled their goalie at 44.13 and the Rockets again went into D mode to keep that one goal lead.
The final whistle blew and the home sides hard earned a great win. Putting them into second place behind the leaders Nottingham on 10 points with Telford on 7 with one game in hand.
The game against Nottingham on the 1st December will be a cracker to watch but before then they have to take on Sheffield on their return game at Telford on the 24th of November who will be out for revenge losing 5-3 to the Rockets 1 week ago.
The playoffs are still in sight!! Keep it going you ROCKETS.
Game Result Telford 3 Manchester 2
Shots on goal Telford 26 Manchester 21
Points
Paul Rigby 1+ 1
Mike Steventon 1+ 1
Luke Brittle 1 + 0
Andrew Whitehouse 0 + 1
SOG Daniel Harrison
