Isle of Wight 4 - 4 Cardiff Junior Devils

The devils standing a disappointing 3 and 3 heading to the isle of wight was destined to see the tone of the new year set early. A win could would motivate a team with little direction a loss against opposition beaten only two months ago could be considered a the first nail to the seasonal coffin. A couple of familiar faces unavailable for the trip Josh Haslam resting after national duty, Jordan Jeffries and under 14’s centre Matthew Thomas spending time with their families, Luke and Geoff recent acquisitions from Bristol had important preparation for exams. Even so the bus looked busy perhaps the festive spirit had run over and guests a plenty made the trip. Passports at the ready and two players tricked into being stow aways’ we caught an earlier than expected ferry arriving on the island with two hours to spare before face off. This time was used well and the team ‘bonded’ and the atmosphere both in the dressing room and on the bench was a world away from where it had been at the end of ’08.

The cheery disposition soon took a knock when the lightning took an early lead-jamming home a puck otherwise secured under goalie Ben Parkinson’s glove. Protest ignored, one goal down but the mood was still buoyant so, on we pressed. Set back number came when Alex Mancuso fanned on a clearing attempt the result being a two goal deficit against the run of play. Lewis Jones regains momentum for Cardiff by banging home a rebound off a Callum Palmer shot-a kerching from the high corner his reward from a high slot slapshot. Late in the first Kieran Latchford takes a retaliation minor, 4 on 4 play on such a small rink doesn’t help anyone! The final buzzer sounded Cardiff trailing 2-1 but outshooting our hosts 8-7.

Soon after a brief respite (no ice-cut) momentum is still with us and a quick face off win by Jones landed on Mancuso’s stick. He promptly hammered the puck at the Isle of Wight goal, a slight deflection sending the biscuit over the goalies shoulder scores level at two. The lightning step up a gear and send the puck into the Cardiff end with no luck until a rebound to the slot resulted in a hard shot straight into Parkinsons ribs and on to the twine for a one goal margin. More importantly Ben was hurt and there was concern over his ribs (thankfully all is well by the time of writing) cue James Wallace. Some to and fro play kept the fans on edge until Nathan Dunn, having a slow day by his standards, makes the 6th shot of the period. His wrister from the blue line passed through a screen and the goalie untouched for another equaliser. The period finished shots level at 8 but face offs were dominated 4-9 to Cardiff.

James Wallace still guarding the cage was beaten for the only time on the third shot of the period, a second rebound following a bad change by Cardiff’s centreman Giacomo Raffaelli who was having an otherwise flawless game finishing on 6 shots, the effective 5 on 3 made things easy for the islanders to regain the lead. The Devils didn’t hang around and tied it up again. Deja Vu for those at the under 14’s game the day before. Joseff Lawrence collected his own rebound while driving the net mid check on the way to the ice he swatted a puck passed a sprawling goalie four four with not long left. The final buzzer sounded and a couple of penalties to an ill disciplined lightning player gave each side a point.

All in a not unsuccessful outing despite Cardiff outplaying, out shooting and out drawing the opponent they capitalised on the few errors we made the biggest stride forward was team spirit and enthusiasm to the end it says a lot about a team who can come from behind three times in one game especially on the road. Alex, Giacomo and Tommy Roberts all had their best games for six months or more. If Cardiff could have nosed ahead I think we’d have stayed there but it was not to be. Special mention to the under 14’s players stepping up to bolster both numbers and our competitiveness without whom the score and effort would have been exponentially different. Next week Streatham another road game so pack your flak jackets.

Game Stats

Goal Scorers:

Lewis Jones 1+2, Nathan Dunn 1+0, Alex Mancuso 1+0, Joseff Lawrence 1+0, Joe Morris 0+1   PIM: Cardiff-18: Nathan Dunn 2 Kieran Latchford 2 Johan Hennius 12 Alex Mancuso 2 IOW 34

Shots on Goal:	Man of the Match:	Spirit of the Game:
Cardiff: #1 Ben Parkinson-10 #2 James Wallace - 17 IOW: #15 Elliot Powell - 43	#2 James Wallace	#3 Giacomo Raffaelli