Welsh Cup Clash – Saturday, 7th September 2024
Venue: The Den (Deeside Ice Arena)
In a thrilling contest that marked the return of the Welsh Cup after a 20-year hiatus, the Aspray Chester Deeside Dragons and Cardiff Fire battled to a dramatic 5-5 draw at the Den on Saturday night. The highly anticipated North vs. South Wales showdown lived up to its billing, with both teams leaving everything on the ice in a game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer.
First Period: Dragons in Control, But Yet to Shift Gears
The Dragons came out strong in the opening period, taking control of the game with disciplined play and good puck possession. However, despite their dominance, the Dragons didn’t quite manage to shift into second gear, missing some early opportunities. They struck early when Ross Kennedy (#55) opened the scoring at 5:38 with an even-handed goal, assisted by Jakub Hájek (#12) and James Shaw (#15). Jared Dickinson (#61) doubled the lead soon after, finding the back of the net with assists from Hájek and Kennedy, making it 2-0.
Cardiff Fire managed to hold on and weather the early storm, finding some rhythm as the period progressed. Although they were outshot by the Dragons (13 to 8), they remained composed defensively to keep the deficit manageable heading into the first intermission.
Second Period: Major Penalty Turns the Tide
The second period began with the Dragons adding to their lead as Ross Kennedy (#55) scored his second goal of the game at 24:33, assisted by James Shaw (#15) and Matthew Wainwright (#13), to make it 3-0. However, Cardiff Fire quickly responded when Lewis Stevens (#43) netted an even-strength goal, assisted by Daniel Williams (#88), reducing the deficit to 3-1.
The turning point came shortly after when Dragons’ Oliver Howells (#85) received a 5-minute major penalty for boarding, giving Cardiff an extended power play. The Fire took full advantage, with Bailey Hind-Pitcher (#34) scoring the first power-play goal, assisted by Aaron Moody (#33), to bring the score to 3-2.
Despite being a man down, the Dragons showed resilience as Jakub Hájek (#12) scored a spectacular short-handed goal at 31:12, assisted by Alex Parry (#7), extending their lead to 4-2. Cardiff, however, wasn’t finished. They scored their second power-play goal of the period through Kristians Kasjanovs (#21), assisted by Daniel Williams (#88), bringing the score to 4-3.
Moments later, Cardiff Fire equalized with an even-strength goal by Elis Sheppard (#97), assisted by James Matthews (#40) and Chris Fox (#9), bringing the score to 4-4 heading into the final period.
Third Period: Late Drama and a Last-Gasp Equalizer
The final period was an intense battle as both teams searched for the game-winner. Ross Kennedy (#55) put the Dragons ahead with his hat-trick goal at 59:31, assisted by Jakub Hájek (#12) and Matthew Wainwright (#13), sending The Den into raptures with just 30 seconds left on the clock. The crowd believed that the Dragons had secured the victory and a crucial advantage going into the second leg.
However, Cardiff Fire had one last move up their sleeve. With a timeout called, they prepared for a final push. Winning the faceoff, they launched an aggressive attack, and Daniel Williams (#88) scored the dramatic equalizer, assisted by Elis Sheppard (#97), in the dying seconds to snatch a 5-5 draw.
Game Statistics
- Shots on Goal:
- Period 1: Dragons 13, Fire 8
- Period 2: Dragons 13, Fire 12
- Period 3: Dragons 11, Fire 7
- Goalie Saves:
- Dragons (Booth & Gledhill): 22 of 27
- Fire (Gemma Davies): 32 of 37
- Penalties:
- Dragons: 21 minutes
- Fire: 20 minutes
Looking Ahead: All to Play for in the Return Leg
With the match ending in a draw, the Welsh Cup remains undecided. The two teams will meet again in Cardiff on September 28th for the second and final leg. With everything still to play for, both sides will be gunning for victory in what promises to be another fiercely contested game. Whoever wins on the night will lift the Welsh Cup, ensuring a dramatic conclusion to this long-awaited competition.
Stay tuned as the Dragons head south, ready to take on Cardiff Fire once more in a game that will decide the champions of Wales!
