ENL Devils 9-4 IoW
22nd Feb 2010 | Posted by ENL Devils
The Cardiff ENL Devils hosted the Isle of Wight Raiders on Sunday night in Cardiff Bay arena in what proved to be a feisty, entertaining affair. The Devils had travelled back from a long road trip the night before, having won in Peterborough 8-2 and not getting home until nearly 5am. The Raiders, Captained by ex-elite tough-guy Jeremy Cornish, were hoping that the Devils would be feeling the after effects of that game if they were to take
anything from the fortress that the 'Blue Tent' has been this year, where the home side remain unbeaten all season with only 3 home games to go.
Cardiff's line-up saw them short at back with key defence-brothers Dan and Al Madge still out injured, and experienced veterans Cowmeadow and Pope also missing, (the latter currently on commentating duty for the BBC in the Winter Olympics) coach Mark Cuddihy was forced to shuffle his pack again, with Jamie Dancey and Captain David James filling in on blue line duties. Utility man Adam Wood was also unavailable due to a suspension picked up 2 hours earlier, but the home side were boosted by the return of Mike Brabon between the pipes to face his former club once again.
The game opened with a series of penalties against the home team forcing them on the back foot, but the Devils penalty kill has been strong all season and they managed to keep the door closed to an attacking Raiders team. It wasn't long before Jeremy Cornish made his first visit to the box and with the open ice 4 on 4 created, the superior speed and puck carrying that the Devils possess started to tell. In particular Ben Davies, available for a rare appearance, was enjoying himself, skating round several opponents with ease linking well with his team mates Steven Fisher and Tim Burrows. It was that line that caused the first breakthrough, with good work by Davies carrying the puck into the offensive zone to feed Fisher, who then executed what the prolific goal scorer does best sniping the top corner of the net over Raiders keeper Colcoughs blocker side on 10.27. Less than 30 seconds later the Devils doubled their lead, as that same line combined once again, Davies passing to Fisher who teed up Tim Burrows who rifled home from the slot past Colcoughs blocker side again. Davies then got on the scoresheet himself to give the forwards of that line one-a-piece when he shot home from the point through traffic whilst the Devils pressed on their first powerplay of the night, the goal coming at 14.04. That saw the end of the 1st period finish 3-0, a strong performance at the back with Phil Manny and Gareth Dixon physically dominating equalled by the fluid play of the home side's forwards.
The second period started with the Devils once again in the driving seat and Ricky Deacon made it 4-0 when Chris Jones won a face-off and found Deacon who stick handled through the Raiders defence before his soft shot beat
Colcough five-hole in one that the visiting goalie would really want back. The game had been feisty throughout as you would expect from any team marshalled by the 'ENL sheriff' Cornish and Capt David James decided that he
needed to stick up for his teammates and dropped the gloves with Tait. James quickly tied his man up by getting his shirt over Taits head landing a few blows to give him the win. With only 1.40 remaining in the period Dixon and
Robinson were the next two to go and a real crowd pleaser saw these two heavy weights trade big blows in what was probably the best fight of the season. Blood on the ice saw the period end early for a re-surface to be
resumed on fresh ice. Straight after the break the creative second line kept the pressure on and all 3 forwards were involved in the 5th scored at 40.57 when Jones cycled the puck in the corner, Deacon nutmeged the defenceman before finding Armour at the back post who made no mistake in slotting home. Arms kept true to his goal celebrating values and raised a few smiles from the home fans and players as he rode his stick across the ice, turning back the years to something you would be more likely to see at a kids game.
Chris Jones then got his first of the night on 40.57 after the teams had swapped ends and that made it a goal a piece for all 6 forwards on the Devils 1st and 2nd lines, assists went to Deacon and Armour. 6-0 up and cruising the Devils let complacency slip in slightly and the visitors proved that they can play a bit as their recent good results suggested. Tait scored the Raiders first of the night pouncing on a rebound to beat Brabon who had
looked confident and comfortable all night, dashing the former Raiders stoppers hopes of a shut out against his former side. Tait then doubled the visitors score 3 minutes later when he beat Brabon low blocker side. Ben Davies quickly responded and scored his second of the evening when he caught Colcough trying to cheat off his post as he and Fisher raced in on a 2 on 1 - the assist going to James Manson. The 3rd line for the Devils then took
over and Corey Watkins ended Colcloughs miserable night between the pipes when he fired home from a Jones pass in another Devils counter-attack. Toby Cooley took over in the visitors net and Luke Takel- a deadline day signing
from the ENL 2 side called up to replace the injured Ross Piggott - took over from Mike Brabon. Unfortunately for Takel, who had picked up the Man of the Match award the night before in Peterborough, his first job was to pick
the puck out the net as Tait completed his hat-trick with a shot that rifled in off the post on 51.11. The Devils possibly saved the best for last when the third line forwards combined beautifully to score their 9th on 54.35
when Luke Piggott fed Dan Bowers who slid the puck over to Corey Watkins to pick up his second of the evening by rounding Toby Cooley. Cornish was to have the last say though when the giant power forward pounced on a rebound at 55.22 to complete the nights scoring. Final Score 9-4.
anything from the fortress that the 'Blue Tent' has been this year, where the home side remain unbeaten all season with only 3 home games to go.
Cardiff's line-up saw them short at back with key defence-brothers Dan and Al Madge still out injured, and experienced veterans Cowmeadow and Pope also missing, (the latter currently on commentating duty for the BBC in the Winter Olympics) coach Mark Cuddihy was forced to shuffle his pack again, with Jamie Dancey and Captain David James filling in on blue line duties. Utility man Adam Wood was also unavailable due to a suspension picked up 2 hours earlier, but the home side were boosted by the return of Mike Brabon between the pipes to face his former club once again.
The game opened with a series of penalties against the home team forcing them on the back foot, but the Devils penalty kill has been strong all season and they managed to keep the door closed to an attacking Raiders team. It wasn't long before Jeremy Cornish made his first visit to the box and with the open ice 4 on 4 created, the superior speed and puck carrying that the Devils possess started to tell. In particular Ben Davies, available for a rare appearance, was enjoying himself, skating round several opponents with ease linking well with his team mates Steven Fisher and Tim Burrows. It was that line that caused the first breakthrough, with good work by Davies carrying the puck into the offensive zone to feed Fisher, who then executed what the prolific goal scorer does best sniping the top corner of the net over Raiders keeper Colcoughs blocker side on 10.27. Less than 30 seconds later the Devils doubled their lead, as that same line combined once again, Davies passing to Fisher who teed up Tim Burrows who rifled home from the slot past Colcoughs blocker side again. Davies then got on the scoresheet himself to give the forwards of that line one-a-piece when he shot home from the point through traffic whilst the Devils pressed on their first powerplay of the night, the goal coming at 14.04. That saw the end of the 1st period finish 3-0, a strong performance at the back with Phil Manny and Gareth Dixon physically dominating equalled by the fluid play of the home side's forwards.
The second period started with the Devils once again in the driving seat and Ricky Deacon made it 4-0 when Chris Jones won a face-off and found Deacon who stick handled through the Raiders defence before his soft shot beat
Colcough five-hole in one that the visiting goalie would really want back. The game had been feisty throughout as you would expect from any team marshalled by the 'ENL sheriff' Cornish and Capt David James decided that he
needed to stick up for his teammates and dropped the gloves with Tait. James quickly tied his man up by getting his shirt over Taits head landing a few blows to give him the win. With only 1.40 remaining in the period Dixon and
Robinson were the next two to go and a real crowd pleaser saw these two heavy weights trade big blows in what was probably the best fight of the season. Blood on the ice saw the period end early for a re-surface to be
resumed on fresh ice. Straight after the break the creative second line kept the pressure on and all 3 forwards were involved in the 5th scored at 40.57 when Jones cycled the puck in the corner, Deacon nutmeged the defenceman before finding Armour at the back post who made no mistake in slotting home. Arms kept true to his goal celebrating values and raised a few smiles from the home fans and players as he rode his stick across the ice, turning back the years to something you would be more likely to see at a kids game.
Chris Jones then got his first of the night on 40.57 after the teams had swapped ends and that made it a goal a piece for all 6 forwards on the Devils 1st and 2nd lines, assists went to Deacon and Armour. 6-0 up and cruising the Devils let complacency slip in slightly and the visitors proved that they can play a bit as their recent good results suggested. Tait scored the Raiders first of the night pouncing on a rebound to beat Brabon who had
looked confident and comfortable all night, dashing the former Raiders stoppers hopes of a shut out against his former side. Tait then doubled the visitors score 3 minutes later when he beat Brabon low blocker side. Ben Davies quickly responded and scored his second of the evening when he caught Colcough trying to cheat off his post as he and Fisher raced in on a 2 on 1 - the assist going to James Manson. The 3rd line for the Devils then took
over and Corey Watkins ended Colcloughs miserable night between the pipes when he fired home from a Jones pass in another Devils counter-attack. Toby Cooley took over in the visitors net and Luke Takel- a deadline day signing
from the ENL 2 side called up to replace the injured Ross Piggott - took over from Mike Brabon. Unfortunately for Takel, who had picked up the Man of the Match award the night before in Peterborough, his first job was to pick
the puck out the net as Tait completed his hat-trick with a shot that rifled in off the post on 51.11. The Devils possibly saved the best for last when the third line forwards combined beautifully to score their 9th on 54.35
when Luke Piggott fed Dan Bowers who slid the puck over to Corey Watkins to pick up his second of the evening by rounding Toby Cooley. Cornish was to have the last say though when the giant power forward pounced on a rebound at 55.22 to complete the nights scoring. Final Score 9-4.
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