Edinburgh Capitals 2 Paisley Pirates 2
5/10/2003 at Murrayfield Ice Rink
Autumn Cup

Pirates restored some pride against Edinburgh with this hard fought draw. The first period never looked like gaining any momentum with a string of penalties littering it. Both sides had powerplays but neither could break the deadlock, with Pirates coming closest on a Gary Morris shorthanded breakaway.

If the first session had lacked incident, the second got off to a flying start with Pirates opening the scoring after only two minutes when Morris persistence in front paid off after a scramble on the Capitals net. Chances continued to come at regular intervals with the Pirates looking the more likely to add to the score until the 28th minute when Neil Hay should have
tied things up but he shot wide from point blank range.

Pirates continued to make the running early in the final session but they got into penalty trouble and when they faced a 5 on 3 powerplay in the 52nd minute, the dam finally broke when Sean Lamb levelled up from close range.

Things went from bad to worse in the 55th minute when Colin Nelson and Ross Hay clashed with their toe to toe bout seeing the Pirate judged the aggressor by referee Keith Simpson as he sat for SIXTEEN minutes in the box with the Capital only receiving four. Pirates did manage to play off the powerplay but the momentum had shifted to the hosts and they hit the front in the 57th minute when Pirates couldn't deal with Neil Hay's solo charge up the ice. In a match that Pirates had controlled for the first two sessions, it would have been harsh if they hadn't taken anything from it and with the desperation move of pulling netminder Orr for an extra skater inside the final minute; they got their reward with only 8 seconds left on the clock. A scramble round the Capitals goal ensued and it was captain for the night John Churchill who was the Pirate hero.

Not for the first time Pirates left the capital scratching their heads atan, at best, questionable refereeing performance with them on the receiving end of a 42-8 penalty count.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paisley: Colin McMillan Edinburgh: Daniel McIntyre
SCORING:
Paisley: Churchill, Morris 1+0, Swiatek 0+2, Thorp 0+1
Edinburgh: N. Hay 1+1, Lamb 1+0, McIntyre 0+1
NETMINDING:
Paisley: Orr 34 shots/2 goals
Edinburgh: Flockhart 20 shots/1goal and Ford (on at 29.38) 24 shots/1goal
PENALTIES:
Paisley: Nelson 18 minutes, Monson 12, Conaboy, McCaig, Mills, Murray,
Swiatek, team bench all 2
Edinburgh: R. Hay 4, N. Hay, McRae 2