"We are fin-al-ists!,
Everybody say it with me!"
(Excuse any mistakes, I've driven well over 400 miles today, so I'm shattered).
Well, what can I say? Bracknell reached their first ever senior final, and in what style, too. Not simply refering to tonight's match, but the whole cup run. Barring a couple of anomolous results (ie 10-2 at Manchester), Bracknell have been very strong in this competition, and have only got better. For the first time ever, they've been able to perform when the chips are down. First to go to Cardiff and win 6-1, to ensure the semis, then to (just) get the easier semi, and then to beat Sheffield (again, only just), to reach the final. Wow! I'm flushed with pride :-)
Onto the match....
The match got off to bad start before either team had even stepped onto the ice - the ref was announced as Boniface! The boos were to prove justified, as he yet again had a nightmare. The game itself began very quickly and, just over 3 minutes in, Bracknell were 1-0 up. With Plommer in the box for roughing, Brian Pellerin gave Greco no chance, after the keeper had only been able to kick McCosh's shot straight back out into the slot. But Bracknell's lead was to last only 2 minutes, Ken Priestlay equalising for Sheffield (I'm afraid where I was sitting gave me a very bad view of the other end of the ice, so I'm afraid this report will be a bit one-sided). Greco was having a bad first period, letting everything that came near him bounce straight back in front. So, it was no surprise when Bracknell again scored off a rebound. Pelly took the shot, the puck fell to Colin ward who took it behind the net. With Ward tied up by the defender, Pelly picked up the loose puck, went on the wrap around and waited just a second before ripping it through Greco's legs. Soon after came the first controversy of the night - Priestlay was (apparently, I missed it) caught full in the face by a Bees' stick, and had to leave with a very nasty slash. The call? Nothing. Bracknell looked to be holding tight to their lead but, with less than two minutes to go, Cranston picked up Chinn's pass and made it 2-2. And that was how it ended in the first.
Again, another explosive start but neither side could capitalise straight away. Bernie was forced to make a fantastic double save, after having only been able to block the first shot and kick it back out. Bracknell were content to keep possesion and not do anything daft, forcing Steelers to come at them. This began to show on the half way mark, when the two Scotts - Allison and Campbell - declined to see eye to eye. Campbell chucked his gloves, but Allison grabbed him and stopped putting that many hits in (although he got a couple once they were on the ice). The judges gave it to Allison, but only on points.
Sheffield were unable to do anything with their resulting powerplay, and went themselves on the penalty kill shortly later. After seeming to have wasted the full two minutes of the powerplay, Colin Ward was able to get the final touch on Shayne McCosh's shot to tap it home. Sheffield again surged forward and Reggie Crawford was forced to blatently trip a Steeler to break up an attack. It was to cost the Bees dearly, as the resulting powerplay gave Sheffield their equaliser, just 41 seconds from the end of the period. Hand (or it may have been Del Monte) had the puck behind the net and tried a wrap-around. Bernie appeared to have the puck at his stick, and be in control of it, before stick-handling through his own legs and into goal. Whooops! Strangest thing was the two assists given for it, though. So, 3-3 at the end of the seocond, and still all to play for.
Into the third period, I had no nails left and Boniface was refusing to call any penalties in the third unless he couldn't avoid it. Junkin was hit in the face by a high stick and bled all other the ice as he left, but no stopppage, whilst apparently Chinn was tugged down by a blatant hook around his neck, again with no call. The only penalty of the period went to Priestlay who, with a Bracknell player on the puck nearside, punched the forward on the other side in the face right in front of Boniface, rather than simply check him. Greco decided to go one better than Bernie and made a treble save, having to stop two of his own rebounds. Bracknell couldn't make the advantage count, though, and it ensured a tense finale.
Entering the final two minutes, Greco was pulled from the ice for the extra skater, and Steelers just bombarded Bracknell's net. Bracknell couldn't clear, and eventually, with a minute and a half left, Wilson forced the puck home. Greco returned, but only for the face-off before again leaving. Bracknell were again forced to defend, but were able to eventually get it out. Joe Ferraccioli skated onto the loose puck and played it to the Chief, on the red line. Despite our pleas, he refused to just belt and instead side-stepped the covering defender and skated to the blue-line, before sending the puck into the empty net to seal the victory. After that, the celebrations began, the silly string flew and the tears flowed (Mr Merry?:-D).
So, overall a very good game. Boniface was as usual totally useless and, if I'm to be fair, Sheffield probably got the worse of the calls tonight. However, Bracknell certainly had plenty missed against them too, and I really don't think it affected the result. Bracknell played cool, calm hockey, knowing the onus was on the Steelers. For once they didn't collapse, even when Sheffield scored their fourth, and so we now have a final next week. Realistically speaking, I can't see Bracknell even staying close to Ayr next week, but to be perfectly honest I don't care. Making the semis made my season, so to make the final is just a bonus. At least we're there, whether we win or lose, and we were rank outsiders against Steelers too, so....:-)