Saturday 12th December 2009

The Bracknell B52's travelled down the road to Basingstoke
to take on the Cougars. With December party season in full
swing the B52's were a bit down on strength and numbers but
determined to make a game of it.

Into the first period and the Cougars immediatly showed their intent, sweeping
forward in well organised attacks and dominating from the start. They poured the rubber on
net, peppering Munson with shots. Bracknell were clearly outmatched and the Basingstoke
team were pretty much able to play their game. So after twenty minutes it was a somewhat
confused looking Cougars team that found themselves still tied 0-0. Despite firing 18 shots on goal, a
string of fine saves from Munson held them at bay, keeping the B52's in the game.

It was no real surprise when Basingstoke finally got the breakthrough, just 45 seconds into the second period. A
faceoff in the Bracknell end was won and worked back to the blue line, where B52 old boy Chris Graham fired a shot
which took a weird bounce just in front on Munson and found it's way in. Just two minutes later it was 2-0 and it looked
like the flood gates might open. But it was the B52's who scored next, Tony Nicholson finishing smartly on a breakaway to
bring Bracknell back within one goal. But with 27 seconds left in the period a nicely worked move saw the Cougars restore
their two goal cushion with a nice finish at the far post. Shots were 31-12 to the Cougars after two periods, with the score at 3-1.



Into the third and it was just over three and a half minutes before the Cougars scored again, 77 left all alone in front of the net just beating Munson glove side. The scoring was completed with three minutes left on a broken play. For the B52's it was a better period, registering 14 shots on net, but the Cougars still carried the lions share of the play with Munson turning away 26 of 28 shots in the period. The Cougars will probably be a little disappointed to not have scored more on their 59 shots, but for
the B52's it was a good effort against superior opposition, in particular Munson could be proud of his game.
MoM for B52's - Tom Revans