Short-handed Cardiff squeeze past Slough

Ice hockey

Amid the unequal scorelines in this weekend's Benson and Hedges Cup games (17-2 to Paisley Pirates and Humberside Hawks against Murrayfield Royals and Telford Tigers respectively were the extreme two), two matches provided close finishes.

The first was between Slough Jets and Cardiff Devils. Randy Smith opened the scoring for the Devils and Joe Stefan replied for the Jets. Both teams then lost a player - Mike Ware of Cardiff and Dave Flanagan of Slough were dismissed at the end of the first period.

Slough prospered in the second period, taking a 3-2 lead. Then Cardiff lost another player, when Mike Ware's brother, Greg, was also banished. Despite their two key imports being absent, the Devils equalised with a goal from Steve Moria four minutes into the final period.

Slough responded with two goals to go 5-3 up, but Cardiff's experience told. Smith levelled the game at 5-5 with four minutes left, and his third goal won it with a minute left. The two sides meet again on Sunday in what could be a classic.

Blackburn Hawks' win over Paisley was even tighter. With seven minutes to go, the score was 1-1, before Steve Chartrand and Lee Cowmeadow made it 3-1 to Blackburn. With just over a minute left, John Downes and John Kidd tied the score again, but Bobby Haig was the Hawks' hero seconds later as his goal made the final score 4-3.

Paul Adey scored 11 points over the weekend as Nottingham beat Guildford 10-2 and Peterborough 8-2. Ron Shudra scored four goals as Sheffield were comfortable 13-2 winners at Guildford.