Final Score - Oxford 12:2 Telford

11th November 2007

Oxford City Stars entertained league strugglers Telford Tigers on Sunday with the home side determined to bounce back after defeat in Peterborough the previous week. Unfortunately for the home side they were without several key players including Alan Green, Will Skaife, Aidy Haigh and Captain Darren Elliott.

With a reshuffled pack, Oxford coach Darryl Morvan opted for an attacking line up with utility player Mark Krater getting the nod up front on the first line. Immediately the positive approach paid dividends when a clearance from defenceman Lee Featherstone allowed pacy forward Dean Francis to nip behind the stagnant Telford defence and fire the puck through the Telford goalies legs with only 36 seconds gone in the game. Less than a minute later the Stars doubled their lead when good work from Andy Cox and Jacob Smith allowed pint sized Sam Broughton plenty of space in front of the net to put the home fans on their feet again. With the crowd buoyant and the Stars enjoying plenty of possession it was to Telfords credit that they managed to hold out and had a number of breakaway efforts of their own. Unfortunately for the Shropshire side they could not find a way past Oxford goalie James Skaife who was in fine form between the pipes. With ten minutes gone Telford finally scored on the powerplay after Oxford had just killed off a 5 on 3 powerplay. The goal came from Kevin Parton with the assist going to Kyle Smith. Despite pulling a goal back the Tigers began to take a number of penalties as Oxford put heavy pressure on the Telford goal. With frustrations rising it seemed that the senior players amongst Telford’s ranks couldn’t keep their cool and Referee Rene Ross dished out a number of misconduct penalties alongside the original minor penalties issued. Lee Featherstone soon made it 3-1 Oxford with another goal from the blue line on the powerplay and then Dean Francis made it 4 with another powerplay goal assisted by Mark Krater and Nick Eden. Telford were now in deep trouble and their Captain Roden lost the plot after receiving a 2 minute penalty for interference. After mouthing off to the referee he got an additional ten minute misconduct then a minute later was given another ten minute misconduct for further verbal attacks on the ref. Despite being told to leave the ice he had another few words with the ref and was given a match misconduct as he skated furiously off.

After an eventful first period the second was always going to struggle to follow suit and so it did. Remarkably Telford fell asleep straight from the face off and Dean Francis danced around their defence and made it 5-1 Stars with only 15 seconds gone!. A minute later and Joe Oliver did virtually the same thing as he jinked through on a great solo effort to score unassisted. It was now one way traffic and the Telford youngsters had to battle hard and they always looked dangerous on the break. In truth though Oxford eased further ahead but were making life hard for themselves with some sloppy play in all sections of the ice.

With 27 minutes gone, a face off in the Telford end was won by Nick Oliver and a quick pass across the blue line by Lee Featherstone was shot first time in the bottom corner by stand in skipper Dave Carr. The diminutive Kent Johnson then stepped up to the plate and fired two goals of the highest quality within a minute to give Oxford a 9-1 lead. If it was all smiles for the City Stars and their supporters it certainly wasn’t for Dave Carr as he left the ice with a mouthful of blood and less teeth than he arrived with after a high stick from Telfords Matt Allen who received a 5 plus game penalty for his troubles. Stars replaced their goalie with Kevin McGurk towards the end of the period.

The third period was very similar to the second with Oxford in control and Telford looking for breakaways. Jacob Smith made it ten with only three minutes gone as he scored top shelf after Broughton and Knightley had caused chaos in the Telford defence. Lee Featherstone scored from the blue line again on a 5 on 3 powerplay. Sam Broughton then tipped in a Jacob Smith shot 3 minutes later after Andy Cox kept the puck in the zone under pressure. Yet again though the Stars powerplay was caught napping and the lively Simon Harrison found the far bottom corner of the goal (and ruined McGurks hopes of a shut out) on a two on one breakaway after Bates slid the puck across.

All in all a comfortable victory for the Stars who had the lion’s share of possession but didn’t hit top gear as far as fluent hockey is concerned. Telford battled hard but the misconducts to key players tells its own story.

Scorers:

Oxford: Dean Francis 3+0, Lee Featherstone 2+2, Sam Broughton 2+1, Kent Johnson 2+0, Jacob Smith 1+2, Dave Carr 1+1, Joe Oliver 1+0, Nick Oliver 0+3, Mark Krater 0+2, Andy Cox 0+2, Patrick Knightley 0+2, Nick Eden 0+1.

Telford: Simon Harrison 1+0, Kevin Parton 1+0, Kyle Smith 0+1, Gareth Bates 0+1.

Penalties:

Oxford: Andy Cox 4 mins, Dave Carr 2, Jacob Smith 2, Dean Francis 2, Lee Featherstone 2.

Telford: Mike Roden 57 mins (inc misc, game and match), Matt Allen 25 (5+game), Karl Creamer 16 (inc misc), gareth Bates 16 (inc misc), Jim Corfield 12 (inc misc), Daniel Taylor 4, Simon Harrison 2, Gareth Ellis 2.

Netminding:

Oxford: James Skaife - 11 saves, 1 goal, total 12 (35.24), Kevin McGurk - 8 saves, 1 goal, total 9 (24.36).

Telford: Joshua Nicholls - 35 saves, 12 goals, total 47.

Also Played:

Oxford: Lee Stobie, Josh Kim.

Telford: Christopher Barlow (NM - did not ice), Andrew Oldham, Jason Parry, Owen Bennett, Mark Asson.

Period Scores:

4-1, 5-0, 3-1

Referees:

Rene Ross, Lines: Jennifer Kent & Lewis Kemp