Nationals Secured

With 4 games left in the season it was all to play for, with the Barbarians still in with a faint chance of league glory.  Only 4 points from the weekend would do, this would also secure a Nationals place for the coveted event.  It was to be 3 points from 4 which secured National qualification however the title dream is over for another season barring a big swing in the final set of fixtures this coming weekend.

Barbarians 2                York Uni 2

After an ill tempered first meeting between the teams in November it was round two.  The early morning match up looked to be a close affair with teams having plenty of shot and power play opportunities.  It was York that took the lead with a well worked powerplay goal which came from high slot.  It however only took 3 minutes for the reply as the duo of Wilson and Clapham combined to level the score.  Since Wilson arriving back from work commitments the duo have definitely clicked and have been deadly in front of goal.  The period ended much of the same with chances going begging at both ends.

At 4 on 4 the Barbarians were stronger and looked to close out the game however penalties kept hampering their progression and ultimately cost them a second goal to give 4th place York a 2-1 league and leave them only a point behind.  The game went on and as it did the Barbarians were becoming more and more desperate and hungry to get an equaliser.  With 53 seconds remaining Bradley slotted home the equaliser from a tight angle, after the puck had been worked well into the slot from Wilson and Oades on a 4-2 powerplay.

Final result 2-2 and the gap remained 3 points.

Barbarians 7            Smoke 1

Second game of the day was against 5th in the table teeside who have made some astute signings since the last encounter.  However they turned up with only 4 men and it showed from the off.  Barbarians never really got going and could be critical that they only scored 7 but 2 points were needed and that's what they got with Coote only conceding 1. 

First period saw goals from Wilson, LLoyd and Clapham to make it 3-0 at the interval.  4 were added in the second 3 from Wilson and one from Bradley.  Assist went to Clapham who bagged 3, Wilson, Chambers and Captain Ancliff. 

Final Score 7-1.

With York been held 5-5 by Khaos and Smoke winning their second game the gap between Barbarians and the chasing 5th and 6th place teams is at 4 points with only 4 points available each and the fact that the Barbarians have a better head to head against both opponents guarantees National qualification.