Final Score - Milton Keynes 1 : 5 Oxford

15th December 2007

Oxford travelled to Milton Keynes lying second in the table and feeling confident after 4 straight wins.

The first period started well with Oxford having all the possession and MK not able to leave their defensive zone. Oxford made some good plays, excellent passes and intelligent moves, but were completely unable to find the net despite some good shots on goal. The MK defence played a good game, breaking up the play and pushing the Oxford forwards wide. MK goalie Alex Barrows made 13 good saves in the first period whilst Oxford netminder Bev Kellond faced no shots on goal. The period ended 0-0, leaving Oxford frustrated and wondering whether the puck would ever find the back of the net.

Oxford countered at the start of the second period and after another two minutes of solid pressure, Oxford finally found the back of the net at 17.00 through Lauren Summers, assisted by Lydia Howton and Amy Hadden. Less than two minutes later Lydia Howton scored a second Oxford goal, low glove side, after an impressive skate through the MK defence. This was the end of the scoring for the second period and despite relentless Oxford pressure, MK once again held firm and although achieving no shots on the Oxford net, frustrated Oxford with some liberal interpretation of the rules – aided by a ref who seemed more interested in levelling the scoreline than calling the game. The shots on goal for the second were 16 to Oxford and 0 to MK.

The third period started well for Oxford, with Amy Hadden scoring 32 seconds into the period, to give Oxford a 3-0 lead. Shortly after this, two minor penalties were called in short succession on Lydia Howton and Louise Thompson and left Oxford facing a 5 on 3. This gave MK the impetus to finally get a first shot on the Oxford goal, and although the initial shot was going wide an unfortunate deflection turned the first MK shot into a goal. Rather than spurring MK on, this served only to anger Oxford who scored two more third period goals (Hadden from Summers, Summers from Hadden), leaving the final score at 5-1 to Oxford.

MVP:

Oxford: Lydia Howton

MK: Lindsey Corrall

Scoring:

Oxford: Lauren Summers 2+1, Amy Hadden 2+2, Lydia Howton 1+1(2), Louise Thompson 0+0(4), Jenny Wheeler 0+0(2).

MK: Carla Todd 0+0(2), Kelly Lee Gilmore 1+0, Wendy London 0+1, Lindsey Corrall 0+0(6).

Shots on Goal:

41 on MK, 3 on Oxford.