Heartache again for the Barbarians as another semi final defeat ends there hope of national glory. Its the second time in 3 seasons for the team.
Saturday morning saw the team line up against much fancied London Snipers. A team with vast international experience. A few of the Barbarians this was there first taste of nationals action and it probably showed in the first couple of shifts. Having said that it was the Barbarians that created the first clear cut opportunity with Steve Walker hitting the post in the first couple of minute. This was one of the few chances the Barbarians would have as the Snipers soon started to show there form.
Mid way through the first period the deadlock was broken 1 nil Snipers. 5 mins later it was all square with Ben Bradley equalising. After half time it was more of Snipers with the Barbarians holding out with some excellent goal tending by Eddie Coote. Goals again were traded making it 2-2 Nick Clapham with the Barbarians goal. Snipers then edged ahead again making it 3-2. With the Barbarians pushing for the equaliser Snipers secured the victory with 2 goals in the last 27 seconds to condemn the team to a 5-2 defeat. A scoreline that slightly flatted there opponents.
Second game of the day was against Bourne End. With temperatures reaching the high 30s in the rink it was going to be a struggle for both teams. The Barbarians started slow and were penalised for it with the Buffaloes sprinting out to a 2 goal lead. The Barbarians battled back and had the tie leaved with at 2-2 with goals from Steve Walker and Nick Clapham. Bourme End edge in front again but for the Barbarians to tie back level with a Nick Clapham equaliser.
Late afternoon had seen the temperature drop slightly and an interesting tie against north east rivals Cleckheaton Comets. As in the last game the Barbarians stuttering starts contiued with them conceeding the first 2 goals. 3 goals from Ben bradley and a short handed goal from James Oades reversed the fortunes and so the Barbarians lead 4-2. A late goal from Comets lead to a tense finish but the team hung on for a 4-3 victory.
The day and group games were over and the team rested up for a tie against last years champions Farnborough Arrows.
The quarter final against Farnborough was a close affair with the teams equaling each other out on many occassions. The deadlock was broken by Nick Clapham mid way through the first period to settle the nerves slightly. With time running out and Farnborough increasingly getting close to a goal a luck bounce landed on Steve Walkers stick to score an empty net goal and securing the win.
Semi final time against league rivals Nothumberland the team that had pipped the Barbarians to the league title. The tie started out much evenly than the league encounters. Nick Clapham again produced a trade mark slap shot to put the Barbarians 1-0 however this was a catalyst for the Knights who in the space of 15 minutes raced out to a 4-1 lead. The Barbarians were under pressure and took a time out. This stemmed the flow of the Knights and Steve Walker pounced to make it 4-2 with the puck just crossing the line. The balance of play switched to the Barbarians. The Knights took a penalty and with the man advantage James Oades fired high into the net to make it 4-3. Off the resulting face off the Barbarians regrouped behind there net. Breaking out the Knights again took a penalty. Barbarians again won the face off and regrouped. James Oades skated from behind the net towards half way on the right side an released a shot that flew past the netminder to claim the equaliser 4-4. However the heroic fight back was invain as the Knights slotted home a late winner and ended the Barbarians dream for another season.
The 3rd and 4th place playoff is always a hard game both teams don't really want to play. This again showed and the Barbarians limped of in a 2-1 loss. Steve Walker with the solitary goal.
Barbarians finished 4th.
Player stats
* Player No GP G A P PM PP SH GW GT OT EN PL
-- ---------------------------- --- --- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----
OADES, JAMES 4 6 3 5 8 0:00 2 1 0 0 0 0 1
WALKER, STEVE 27 6 5 1 6 0:00 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
CLAPHAM, NICK 20 6 4 2 6 0:00 1 0 1 1 0 0 0
BRADLEY, BEN 64 6 4 1 5 8:00 1 0 1 0 0 0 0
MYERS, JAMES 24 6 0 1 1 0:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
LLOYD, DAVID 26 6 0 1 1 0:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
GIRLING, JIM 25 6 0 0 0 4:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
COOTE, ED 1 G 6 0 0 0 0:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
CHAMBERS, M 36 6 0 0 0 0:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
SANDERSON, P 85 6 0 0 0 6:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
ANCLIFF, DAN 55 6 0 0 0 0:00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
----- ----- ----- ----- ------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----
66 16 11 27 18:00 5 1 2 1 0 0 1
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