Saturday 22nd January 2011

Having been largely outplayed by the Blizzard the previous week,
the Bracknell B52's travelled to Basingstoke hoping to put up a better
display. From the off it seemed like a different team, working hard on the
forecheck and battling back whenever the Hyenas got forward. For their part the
Hyenas seemed a little hesitant compared to our recent tilts and after 7:33
Sheppard took advantage of that hesitancy in the defensive zone to put the B52's up 1-0,
ably assisted by Andy Downs. Both teams continued to work hard but not really create much,
both goalies (Silver in for Bracknell) made a few decent saves but didn't get overworked and the
period ended with just the one goal.

Just over a minute into the second and Bracknell were down a man, Paul Ewins heading off to the box for
holding. The Hyenas, realising this could be a pivotal moment, pushed hard for the equaliser. The B52's held firm
and did a great job of keeping them out, then just before the end of the penalty Bracknell broke away and Tony Nix
scored a short handed goal at 23:20 to make it 2-0. There was more ebb and flow to this period, with perhaps the B52's
edging the play when Adrian Wybrott scored their third at 29:12, the puck going in off the goalie after Wybrott shot from
behind the goal line. They Hyenas dragged themselves back into the game when DaCosta scored at 30:25 and made it 3-1
only for Sheppard to get his second at 33:59 and restore the three goal lead. DaCosta would score again for the Hyenas just before the end of the period leaving the at 4-2 to Bracknell.

Into the third and Bracknell were getting the better of the play, Dedman in the Hyena net making a string of fine saves before Sheppard had all the time in the world to have two or three whacks at the puck whilst Dedman was stretched out on the goal line, Sheppard was then able to drag the puck back a little and flip it over the goalie to complete his hat-trick, at which point
the Hyeans goalie understandably went nuts at his team mates. With time running out, sloppy play by the B52's allowed
the Hyenas to get a third goal, but a fine team performance saw Bracknell record a well deserved 5-3 win.