Milton Keynes 0 - 2 Cardiff Junior Devils

 

Cardiff U14's finished their league season on a high with a 2-0 away win over the Milton Keynes Storm on Saturday, completing the home and away double over the storm.

The game began evenly with the visiting Devils looking a little nervous in the early exchanges, but after the first few minutes had passed Cardiff were first to find some extended pressure. Captain Kieran Latchford fired the Devils first real testing shot on goal, which MK's keeper Jordan Hedley turned away.

Hedley was called into action again soon after, having to deal with shots from Tom Parkinson, and Ellis Price, as well as a break away chance from Matthew Thomas, but Hedley, the England U13 Keeper, saved them all to keep the game scoreless. At the other end, James Whiting was called into action with a quick reaction save from a shot right in front of him, with Cardiff defenders Jack Rees and Jack Randall doing a great job of protecting Whiting in goal, and stopping any rebound chance.

Cardiff finished the period with a power-play chance, and again managed shots on goal from Defensemen Callum Buglass and Luke Southwood, but again Storms Hedley kept the net empty.

In the second period Cardiff came out a lot more focussed, and they settled into their game straight away. It only took 43 seconds to break the deadlock. Whilst short-handed, Kieran Latchford broke up the middle of the ice beating a defenseman and forced a good save from the Storm's keeper with a good low shot. Zak Shanahan was positioned well to pick up the rebound and slot home calmly to give the visitors the lead.

The second period was then all one way traffic with the U14 Devils out shooting their hosts 18-0! The line of Giacamo Raffaelli, Ellis Price and Joseff Lawrence were getting good periods of sustained pressure, and this was to eventually pay off. At 24.51, when after a good patient build up from Raffaelli and Price in the corner, Joseff Lawrence was positioned well in front of the net to receive a pass and finish with a strong low shot to double the lead. Cardiff had several other excellent opportunities following this, the best falling to Man of the Match Callum Buglass. Whilst on the man advantage again, Cardiff piled the pressure on and Myles Chapman picked out Buglass pinching in on the back post, only for Hedley in goal to make a strong glove save.

The final period saw Cardiff try and play a little more defensively, looking to protect the shut-out, and the defence of Buglass, Powell, Chapman, Randall, Rees and Southwood all played superbly in restricting chances on net. Gwyn Davies took over in net with 9-26 left in the period, and had two shots to deal with as the Devils looked to close out the game. As the seconds ticked down, Cardiff looked strong and in control, and the final buzzer signalled a 2-0 win, and the U14's second shut-out of the season.

These final two points secured a 3rd place finish in the U14's A Division for Cardiff. A great team achievement in their first year back in the highly competitive A league after promotion from the B division last year. Everyone hopes that this is the foundation of good things to come.

Cardiff now move on to tournaments in Swindon in late May, and Sheffield at the start of June before the season comes to a close.

Game Stats

Goal Scorers:

Goal Scorers: Joseff Lawrence 1+0 Zak Shanahan 1+0 Ellis Price 0+1 Kieran Latchford 0+1

Shots on Goal:	Man of the Match:	Spirit of the Game:
ON CARDIFF DEVILS GOAL (James Whiting): 2 (Gwyn Davies): 2 Total: 4   ON MILTON KEYNES GOAL: 27	Callum Buglass	Aaron Archer