Freeze 4 Blackburn 8
Frreze 4 Blackburn 8
Freeze's cup chances spirited away on the wings of Hawks.
Frantic; best describes the first period, Blackburn brought high speed breakaway play to the table with a side order of haste. Flintshire stepped up to the challenge meeting their opponents at every turn. Back-and-fourth the first three minutes a blur with the puck changing hands by the second. After a few mutual exchanges Flintshire took the decisive move to score, Gary Dixon snatched the puck to score past a stunned Blackburn's netminder.
Blackburn unable to break down Flintshire's defence remained frustrated for a further 6 minutes before finding the net, moments later disallowed. Straight back onto the offensive mounting pressure on Flintshire brought Blackburn their first goal after hitting the net post moments earlier. Blackburn shifting up a gear took control of the puck for the next five minutes pushing Flintshire to a purely defensive role. Blackburn scored again, returning to play they relentlessly tested Flintshire's Matty Compton with five shots within one minute. Proving that spirits can't be frozen in the freezer, Flintshire's Steve Elliott scored much to Blackburn's dismay. Emotions ran high within Blackburn's O.Lomax receiving a 20 minute penalty. Shortly after they called a timeout before the play ended. PERIOD SCORE: 2-2
The blistering pace set in the first period returned for the second, Blackburn scored early. Up for the challenge Flintshire took to the offensive however they conceeded a penalty leaving Matty Compton to stop Blackburn. Returning to play moments later Blackburn score another goal and continued the pressure on Flintshire for a further ten minutes dominating possession. Role reversal took place in the remaining ten minutes with Flintshire controlling the puck. Into the final minute a classic one-two pass put Flintshire's Chris Jones on the score sheet. PERIOD SCORE: 3-4
The third period started with promise for Flintshire as Blackburn had two players penalised in the first two minutes however they were unable to capitalise. Blackburn scored two more. Flintshire keen to show they were not ready to give up scored a 53rd minute goal by James Parsons. Despite Flintshire's best efforts Blackburn controlled the majority of puck possession for the remainder of the period scoring a further two goals sealing Flintshire's fate. FINAL SCORE: 4-8
MVP No.72 FREEZE Chris Jones, No.15 HAWKS Dave Meikle.
Report by John Gibbons
