SUNDAY 3/12/17
NIHL SOUTH 1
VS BRACKNELL BEES
The first time the Bracknell Bee's would visit SW16, this season. And it was a game with much riding on it. The Bee's looking to end a 6 game losing skid. With the return of Frankie Bakrlik from suspension, Scott Spearing dressing for the first time after returning from injury and the addition of Carl Thompson the Bee's presented a strong challenge for the Redhawks. However the loss of sniper Shaun Thompson for the night would mean the likes of James Gallazi, Alex Barker and most importantly Bakrlik would need to be on their game offensively.
Also in the Bees favor this evening was the fact they were rested. While the Redhawks had just come off a battle in Basingstoke where they held on to end the Bisons streak as the only ex EPL team to not lose to an original NIHL side. And with that scalp in hand they would fancy their chances against a strong looking Bee's line up.
1st Period
It would be a battle of David Vs Goliath, speed vs strength in this game. The Bee's boasted both size and skill. While the Redhawks would have to exploit their explosive speed to catch the bigger Bee's off balance. They would need to dig deep and find that same form that had seen them win 5 of their last 6, and helped them topple both Basingstoke and Swindon. Off the opening face off however the Bee's took assertive control penning the Hawks in their own end for several minutes. Thompson and Bakrlik routinely gave the Hawks D trouble, Alex Barker proved troublesome to. All forcing a series of desperation save from Matt Colclough. The Hawks D just couldn't get the puck clear and at 3:49 on the clock this lead to a Tripping Penalty called on Brendan Miles.
However the following Bee's powerplay failed to make any impact, as the Hawks PK turned the Bee's best PP plans to chaos at almost every turn. However the Bee's offense at even strength soon began stretching Matt Colclough, as a pattern of puck movement combined with point shots from Bakrlik and Bendik became apparent. And at around 8 minutes that combined with the Hawks repeatedly thwarted attempts to clear lead to Barker putting the puck down low from the blue line,where Callum Best was waiting to slot it cross ice to a waiting George Norcliffe and despite Colclough trying his best he couldn't reach it in time. 1-0 Bees.
The pendulum of pressure would soon begin to swing in the Hawks favor, as they found a way to put speed and stretch passes to effect in the neutral zone. However the active stick work from both sides made this challenging at times, especially in the neutral zone. But it was working behind the net, something the Hawks have been masters of this season that lead to the equalizer. As Alex Sampford and Ben Paynter combined to win a puck battle and feed an open and waiting Michael Farn who fired in to the opening Alex Mettan had presented him with. 1-1
The rest of the period would see both goalies come under siege as both sides attempted to push ahead. One highlight being Ryan Watt making the entire line of Bee's look immobile as he skated away in to a 1 on 1 with Alex Mettam only for the experienced shot stopper to foil him. Meaning both teams headed to the locker rooms tied at 1-1
2nd Period
Off the face off the second started much like the first, with the Bee's taking command of possession and pinning the Hawks in their end. But it would be the Hawks who would make offensive pressure pay 3 minutes in at 23:04 as pressure and a flurry of successive shots that were turned away by Mettam and the D lead to Ryan Webb feeding a rebound to Ryan Watt who fire it in to the net to make it 2-1 Redhawks.
This sparked a rash of end to hockey, as the Bee's urgently looked for an equalizer, Bakrlik at one point looked like he might provide that as he skated up with the puck and found a way to cut inside and found a waiting Josh Martin. But again Matt Colclough would frustrate the Bee's offence. The Neutral zone was becoming turnover central at this time, no sooner did one teams player have the puck then he was set upon by the opposition. One such turnover would release Tom Avery on the PP but again Colclough would stand his ground keeping it 2-1.
Eventually though the pressure paid off, unable to make a clearance the Bee's found themselves able to work the puck around the edges on the cycle. Ealey Newman would pass to Jared Lane who found a waiting James Gallazi skating in at the opposite post and like that it was 2-2.
The Bee's wouldn't have long to enjoy being level though, 1 minute later, the Hawks ex EPL trio would combine to put the home side back in front. Michael Farn would find Adam Carr. A pass to Ryan Watt at the half way mark so Watt head off on his own personal impression of Bobby Orr, as he went outside before cutting inside across Mettams crease stuffing it home, flying head over heels in the process. This had many arguing there was contact and it should not stand. But referee Hewitt ruled it was a good goal,and the score now stood at 3-2 Hawks
Jared Lane would benefit from another turn over this time in the Hawks end, a miscue between Sampford and Baird found the Bee's forward in on Colclough.But again the Hawks shot stopper was equal to the challenge. While the Bee's were using a mix of crips pass play and ranged fire, the Hawks had settled on getting in Mettams face repeatedly trying for tic tac tip plays in and around the net. But Mettam would bat these aside or his D would break the play up.
The Hawks would close out the second extending thier lead at the 38 minute mark, a delayed penalty call enabled the Hawks to go to 6 skaters, Farn very intelligently stayed back until his team mates had set up before firing an up ice pass to Alex Sampford, crisp passing to Ryan Watt found the puck back on Sampfords stick who would tuck it home to make it 4-2 Hawks. And once again the Hawks had the hardest lead in hockey. Coach Cornish wold have the whole 2nd intermission to now plan. Would he park the bus or go all out offensive?
3rd Period
The game plan for both going in to the third, was simple. Both needed to score first. Bee's to claw back the momentum, Hawks to kill it off. As with the 1st and 2nd the Bee's would begin by piling the offensive pressure on the Hawks net. The Hawks did themselves no favors by failing repeatedly to clear the zone, or make any connecting passes. The Bee's took control of the neutral zone in the early going. Soon though the lack of a goal and the Hawks frustrations at not being able to break out lead to some chippyness, as Brendan Baird and Barker almost came to blows after Colclough had saved a close shot from Jan Bendik. Soon after the Hawks found an offensive stride again, Andreas Siagris and Aiden Doughty found themselves in 2 on 1 but couldn't convert. Alex Sampford would find himself alone, in on Mettam but again Mettam would make the save. Frustration was really beginning to show, if the hand bags between Alex Barker and Jacob Ranson weren't an indicator. Frankie Bakrlik deciding to try out for the Czech Olympic Javelin team mid period, by launching his stick in to his own bench was a clear sign of this.
With 4 minutes remaining the Bee's would opt to use their time out to regroup. This worked, as off the following face off Bakrlik would work his way up ice, before passing it to Thompson who from down behind the net would find Josh Martin skating in. Taking advantage of the slight gap afforded to him by Colclough and it was 4-3. The Bee's were back in the game it seemed.
With 1:33 left on the clock and seemingly in command of the neutral zone and the game at this point the Bee's gambled. Pulling Mettam for the extra attacker. However the gamble failed. Once again Michael Farn would turn defense in to offence as he released Ryan Webb skating up the near side boards. With explosive speed he would leave all in the dust and shoot in to the empty net to make it 5-3 Hawks
Any lingering hopes the Bee's had of a late comeback took a further blow when at 58 minutes Alex Barker was assessed 2 for tripping. And so the game ended, a 4 point weekend for the Hawks and a further defeat for the Bee's.
Post Game thoughts
This was another incredible game of hockey, real edge of the seat stuff from both sides. The Bee's did look like they could take it at times, but they just seemed to lack that final touch and killer finish on too many of their chances.
Jared Lane took MOTM for the Bee's and I feel that was a deserved choice, along with Alex Barker and Carl Thompson he was a continuous thorn in the Streatham defenses side. Alex Mettam also I think deserved it maybe as despite the 4 goals he let in he stood on his head to keep them in it. Especially when the Hawks where looking to kill the game off. What really cost the Bee's was the loss of the 50/50 battles in the corner, which if you lose those against Streatham in particular is not going to lead to a win. Bee's would have hoped the return of the second highest points scorer in the league would've helped them break the skid. But Bakrlik was pretty much a non factor for most of this game. He came alive to spark the 3rd goal. But for large chunks of the game seemed invisible.
Ryan Watt was fully deserving of the MOTM honors as well for the Hawks. With 2 goals and an assist Watt was spearhead of another resilient performance from the Redhawks. Michael Farn deserved consideration as well, his hard work at the back end both in defending and creating offence was the catalyst to several of the Hawks goals. Matt Colclough's performance in net helped keep the team in contention for the win. And special congrats to Ryan Webb, from his reaction and the celebrations both on and off the ice you could see how much that goal meant to the lad. He's really having a break out season, and his partnership with Ryan Watt is entertaining to watch.
Up next for the Hawks its the local rivals the London Raiders. Another possibility here for a close game. London coming off the back of beating Cardiff Fire 6-1 on Saturday. Then the Hawks return home to another tough test in Basingstoke. The Bison will be looking to exact revenge for the 2-0 loss the Hawks inflicted on them last week. But after a 4 point weekend against ex EPL opposition the Hawks will fancy their chances.
