Kirkcaldy Kestrels 2 Paisley Pirates 1
16/3/2003 at Fife Ice Arena
Scottish National League

Pirates crash to their fourth straight defeat and were not helped by missing injured skipper Myles Watson, out after breaking his foot at Blackburn.

The game got off to a slow start, neither side creating much in the opening minutes, this despite Pirates enjoying an early powerplay. It took until the 9th minute for either side to create an opening and with it came the opening goal, Pirates unable to clear their zone and Gavin Holmes netted from close range. Pirates almost levelled immediately but following a scramble around the Kestrels net, Stuart Miller fired wide. Pirates continued to create the better of the few chances but Colin Grubb was in a mean mood, twice denying John Churchill. As the period wound down, Pirates almost shot themselves in the foot, Gordon Nelson coughing the puck up in his own zone but David Robb couldn’t punish them.

Pirates found themselves shorthanded early in the second period but Kestrels couldn’t convert. Back at even strength and still little action at either end but what there was, was coming from Paisley. First Colin McMillan fired off the post in the 31st minute and then 3 minutes later he was denied by Grubb at point blank range.

If the first two periods had been relatively penalty free, referee Graeme Clark made up for it in the final session, calling 24 minutes of penalties. Given this it was no surprise that Pirates equaliser came on the powerplay, Gordon Nelson sending a blue line rocket past Grubb in the 57th minute. It wasn’t, however, to be their night as 32 seconds later, a harmless dump towards the Paisley goal by Gavin Fleming evaded netminder Damien Orr going through his legs. Pirates finished the match on the powerplay, former Lagoon blueliner Scott Plews in the penalty box. Despite this, and pulling Orr for an extra skater in the final seconds, they couldn’t find another goal.

Pirates do, however, have an immediate chance for revenge as the two sides meet again at the Lagoon this Saturday in the second leg of the Scottish Cup semi final, which with the reversal of Kestrels 6-2 first leg victory, is delicately poised at 0-0 after Grubb was deemed ineligible.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Not awarded
SCORING:
Paisley: G. Nelson 1+0, Clark, Steele 0+1
Kirkcaldy: Fleming, Holmes 1+0, Forsyth, Plews 0+1
NETMINDING:
Paisley: Orr 19 shots/2 goals Kirkcaldy: Grubb 32 shots/1goal
PENALTIES:
Paisley: McMillan 12 minutes, Drummond, Monson 2
Kirkcaldy: Plews 6, Greig, McAndrew 2