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Second period scoring and clutch goaltending lead to a long overdue win.
The Chargers' took to the ice for their 2nd meeting ever with the Medway Madness. In the previous meeting with Medway in March, the game couldn't be decided and ended in a 5-5 tie.
This game would have a different storyline. Medway came out firing at the start of the first period, getting plenty of shots on Chargers' netminder Alex Bradshaw, all of which were turned aside until 10:42 when an original shot rebounded and sat in the slot waiting for Medway's Jonny Arnold to fire it home. The puck took a weird bounce off two players in front before finding the back of the net to the left of Bradshaw.
Less than 5 minutes later, Medway struck again as Murtola lifted a high backhand shot over the outstretched arm of Bradshaw to bring the score to 2-0. The remained of the 1st period was scoreless as the horn sounded, and the Chargers' looked for a way to come back from a 2-0 hole.
The 2nd period started with more jump from the Chargers. The team's top line of Malyon, Revill and Rickett started to gel together with some slick passing and shots at the net. Dave Rawlings and Richard Webber seem to be picking up their game also, Rich skating more than has been seem as of late, while Dave tried some coast - to - coast moves to bring the puck into the offensive zone. It didn't take long for the Chargers' to open their scoring. A pass from Rawlings to Damian Brading found Steve Hughes for a shot past a screened Carl Pattenden in the Medway net. The goal at 9:48 of the 2nd period rallied the Chargers' bench, and electrified their play on the ice. Just 20 seconds later Adam Swainsbury took a harmless looking floating shot from the left point which somehow found the back of the net, tying the score at 2-2. Richard Webber assisted on the goal, and was quickly back to work, as he and Rawlings opened up the Medway defence. A pass from Webber left Rawlings a scoring chance which he thumped past Carl Pattenden leaving him dazed and confused.
Just 13 seconds later with the score 3-2 in Chargers' favour, Barry Spours took a pass from Tony Wood, walked in from the corner and slid the puck between Bradshaw's legs for the tying goal at 12:50 of the 2nd period.
The Medway glory was short lived, as just 2 minutes later, the Chargers' regained their scoring touch. This time, Damian Brading capitalised on assists from Wilson Ross and Paul Revill bringing the score to 4-3. Just as the tempo of the game seemed to relax line 1 sprung into action - Malyon to Mike Ford, who laid off a pass to Revill in the neutral zone. Paul made a highlight deke on the defenseman at the blueline leaving him standing, before going in alone and roofing the puck over Pattenden's glove to make it 5-3.
The Chargers' shut the door on Medway for the remainder of the 2nd period. Some pad saves from Bradshaw, and most of the play in the Medway zone, gave the opposition no chance to capitalise. The horn sounded and the Chargers rested before the 3rd period, up 5-3.
At the start of the 3rd period, it appeared Medway were using dump and chase tactics to try to get the puck into the Chargers' zone for some offensive chances. Barry Spours seems to be the only player fast enough to get into the zone and challenge for the puck. This made the 3rd period seem more relaxed and fairly paced for the Chargers' who seemed to enjoy the comfortable 2 goal cushion. A fantastic glove save from Bradshaw added to the Chargers' onslaught as Medway couldn't seem to get anything past the Chargers' netminder. Adam Swainsbury in defence made sure Alex could see all the shots he faced by listening to instructions and moving attacking forwards out from the front of the net.
At just 46 seconds from the end of the game James Hollick finished it for the Chargers' scoring off a pass from Andy Malyon to make it 6-3.
The final horn sounded, and the Chargers enjoyed their first victory in over 5 months. Netminder Alex Bradshaw earned the Man of the Match award, as too did Medway's Carl Pattenden.
The Chargers look to continue their winning attitude for their last two games of the season.
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