Paisley Pirates 4 Solway Sharks 1
5/4/2003 at Lagoon Leisure Centre
Scottish National League

Pirates made the early running in this match, creating several half chances but without success. Their rhythm, however, was interrupted in the 5th minute when James Clark took a holding penalty. Solway couldn’t convert with the extra man but they did take the lead in the 9th minute when former Pirate Bobby Chalmers sent an unstoppable wrist shot home from the right circle. Pirates were again shorthanded in the 12th minute with Mark Andrews in the box, but again they survived this. Back at even strength and Pirates again dominated, only a point blank range save by Dewar Anderson keeping out a re-directed effort by Roger Monson. The equaliser when it came was worth waiting for, as Colin McMillan contributed a candidate for goal of the season in the 16th minute. Picking the puck up at the half way line, he stick handled through the whole Sharks defence before drawing Anderson and slotting into the unguarded net. Both sides traded chances in the closing moments of the period with Pirates netminder John Russell doing well to keep out three quick-fire chances in the last 30 seconds.

Pirates were again dominant at the start of the second session but their progress was partially halted with another penalty, this time to Gary Morris in the 23rd minute. Again they played this off and continued to hunt the go ahead goal but it took until the 31st minute for them to find it, Stuart Swiatek scrambling home from close range. The lead should have been increased in the 36th minute when Anderson produced another point blank save to stop McMillan but the Pirate will probably feel he should have netted the rebound. Pirates finished the period shorthanded with Monson in the box and this time they were almost made top pay, Gary Carruth going close with only seconds remaining.

Pirates continued to give Sharks powerplay opportunities at the start of the final period with Clark back in the box in the 42nd minute. This time only the post prevented Chalmers from equalising. This was all the wake up call Pirates needed but the third goal when it came in the 45th minute was no classic, Morris mishitting in front and the puck crawled agonisingly over the line. Chalmers then had a breakaway chance for Sharks before Brian Taylor capitalised on a lucky Pirates bounce at the blue line in the 48th minute to complete the scoring. The scoring may have ended there but the chances didn’t with Chalmers for Sharks seconds later and then Jamie Turnbull and Swiatek in the minutes that followed all firing off the post. The match finished with more penalties, a clash of handbag proportions in the 58th minute between Cammy Currie and Chris Mills saw both players take matching penalties for interference with the Pirate also taking an additional 10 minute personal misconduct. Pirates again finished shorthanded and again it was Monson who sat out the closing moments but Sharks were a beaten team by this point and time ran out without further incident.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Paisley: Stuart Swiatek Solway: Dewar Anderson
SCORING: Paisley: Morris, Swiatek 1+1, McMillan, Taylor 1+0, Clark, Miller, C. Nelson, G. Nelson 0+1
Solway: Chalmers 1+0, Carruth, Gallacher 0+1
NETMINDING:
Paisley: Russell 36 shots/1 goal Solway: Anderson 46 shots/4 goals
PENALTIES:
Paisley: Mills 12 minutes, Clark, Monson 4, Andrews, Morris 2
Solway: Currie 2