Cody Sol’s first period strike made all the difference as Aspray Glasgow West sponsored Glasgow Clan picked up their first away win against Belfast Giants in over five and a half years.
Jason Morgan’s side recorded a huge 1-0 over the Giants to clinch their first two-point success since March 2018 to end a five-game losing run, but did it against a Giants side who just couldn’t find a way through.
The home side wasted zero time getting on the front foot as Glasgow netminder Jake Kielly was forced into early action to fend off efforts from Ben Lake and Daniel Tedesco.
Belfast couldn’t find a way past the Clan’s #1 though as the visitors generated chances of their own at the other end with Darien Craighead coming agonisingly close to opening the scoring.
Glasgow found the breakthrough just after the 10th minute of the game though as Cody Sol unleashed an absolute cannon from the blue line which zipped past Belfast goalie Jackson Whistle.
Matt McLeod nearly bagged an equaliser shortly after when he burst through on goal on the powerplay, but Kielly managed to bat the puck away from him with his stick.
Craighead had another massive chance for the Clan when he dragged the puck around the Giants’ crease and lured Whistle off his line, but his shot couldn’t beat the Belfast netminders’ pad.
Kielly found his groove in the second period as he flooded the highlight reel with a plethora of impressive saves.
Johnny Curran was first to test the Clan net in the second period as he fired a first timer from the backdoor but couldn’t find a way past the sprawling Kielly.
Greg Printz then saw his wraparound attempt kicked clear by Kielly’s skate before he pulled off a fantastic diving stop on a McLeod slapshot.
At the other end, Jordan Cownie and Charlie Combs almost added to the Clan’s lead but neither could find the net as Sol’s first period slapshot remained the only difference into the second interval.
Jake Bolton nearly doubled Glasgow’s lead in the third period when he dragged the puck across the crease and backhanded it on net, but Whistle was quick to it.
Reid Petryk also came close to bagging a second Clan goal as he fired a shot from the backdoor but Whistle’s out-stretched pad cut it off.
Alex Roach put in a standout performance for the visitors as he battled hard to defend his side’s lead throughout the game.
Oliver Cooper and Tedesco had some Grade A chances in front of the Clan net but neither could come up with an equaliser as Glasgow left the SSE Arena victorious.
Report by Sam Scouller; photos by William Cherry/Press Eye
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