SUTTON, UK – Sutton Sting’s senior team played host to 2nd in the league Flintshire Freeze on Sunday in a game which the Sting were hoping would see the Ashfielder’s return to winning ways. So far this season the senior sting have not been able to capture the form being shown by their junior counterparts, a point not lost on Sting coach Ian Johnson who before the game said, “Flintshire are a quality team and their recent result against Solihull (7 – 7) tells me that we need to be at our best if we are going to stay with them in this game.” With the Sting having won only 3 of their first 7 games this tie was going to be tough, but the Sting had home ice advantage and with a full bench coach Johnson was optimistic.
No chance for Freeze goalie.
The game started brightly for the Sting who immediately placed the Deesider’s on the back foot with some very strong offensive pressure from the Sting forwards. The game was played at a very fast pace and this seemed to suit the Sting who very soon took the lead through Sutton youngster Scott Haywood, he rifled a bullet of a shot in to the roof of the net from the blue line, 1-0 to the Sting. With their tails high the Sting applied more pressure on what seemed to be a rocky Freeze defence and the second goal came moments later when Sting’s star forward Simon Butterworth (Ex Sheffield Steelers EIHL player) hit the back of the net cutting inside from the left. Flintshire eventually got their game together and managed to pull a goal back but the first period was Sutton’s as they led 2-1. At the start of the 2nd Flintshire mounted some good pressure on the Sting defence and were rewarded with three quick goals in the space of a couple of minutes. The Sting defence had gone to sleep and were caught out by some slick passing which left a man high in front of goal and the Freeze converted three chances to put them 2-4 up. These 3 goals kick-started some outstanding play by Butterworth and within 5 seconds of the re-start pulled a goal back for the Sting with a bullet-shot beating the Freeze goalie who was left standing. But Butterworth was not done. Moments later Ryan Gee back-checking on a Flintshire break-away turned-over the puck and with a pin point stretch pass to Butterworth turning defence in to attack saw “Buttsy” skip past the towering Freeze defender and as the goalie rushed out from his crease. Butterworth pulled the puck left and fired in to an empty net to draw the Sting level 4-4 as the crowd went wild. At the start of the third period Flintshire tried to increase their physical game and this suited the Sting although a well-worked play saw the Dessider’s take the lead again, but their lead was short-lived as that man Butterworth set-up Paul Lane to slot home 5-5.
%27Butters%27in MOM action.
Flintshire were starting to look deflated and the Sting knew that this game was theirs for the taking. As the Freeze conceded more minor penalties the Sting’s powerplay produced more goals and as the clock counted down some great possession hockey from Sutton saw Flintshire loose their composure and the match. The final score Sutton Sting 8, Flintshire Freeze 5. Man of the Match for Sutton Sting was Simon Butterworth who after the game said, “This was a fantastic result for us today. We worked hard for each other and we played as a team. We were great on the penalty kill today denying the Freeze time after time and it was a very rewarding game for us. I am delighted.” Sutton will need to maintain this momentum shift and look to kick on from here if they are to achieve their goals for this season. Contact:
neil.edwards@prohockeynews.com Related
