Curse of number 13 again for Newcastle Vipers
Sep 27 2010 by Kevin Dinsdale, The Journal
AFTER conceding 13 goals for the second successive weekend the Vipers remain pointless four matches into the new season.
Following Saturday night’s one-sided 6-2 home loss to the Belfast Giants, the Vipers would have looked forward to playing against an Edinburgh Capitals side they had beaten twice in their late starting pre-season warm-up games.
But the joy was confined to the home side as they ran out 7-4 winners.
An early goal by Patrik Forsbacka gave the Vipers an early lead but they were unable to consolidate it and instead went 3-1 behind to goals from Nick Fanto (10 mins), Chris St Jacques (24) and Iain Bowie ( 25). A break-away goal scored by Jaroslav Rzeszutko on 35 minutes put the Vipers back within touching distance and contact was made just 48 seconds into the final period when the skilful Pole added his second of the night.
From then on the Capitals were in the ascendancy and two goals from Adam Taylor (43 and 51), together with another St Jacques’ success (54) put the home side firmly on course for their first win of the season.
Some doubt was placed on the outcome with three minutes remaining when Scott Langdon made it 6-4 but, with netminder Charlie Effinger withdrawn to the bench, Kyle Horne hit home the Caps’ seventh with only 36 second left. On Saturday night the Vipers were quickly playing catch-up hockey after Tim Cook had fired the Giants into an eighth-minute powerplay lead.
Further goals from Mike Hoffman (13), Mark Garside (27), Brett Hemmingway (41) and Hoffman again (42) extended the visitors’ lead before the Vipers at last gave their home fans something to cheer about.
Their captain Paul Sample capitalised on a rebound on 44 minutes to make it 1-5 and with four minutes remaining, Forsbacka sent the puck beyond netminder Stephen Murphy’ s reach to further reduce the arrears.
But the last word belonged to the solid and well drilled Belfast side when an unsighted Effinger was beaten by a long range shot let loose by Richard Seeley on 58 minutes.
Whitley Warriors consolidated their position at the head of the English National League with a weekend double over Sheffield.
The Hillheads side travelled to beat the Spartans 12-3 on Saturday, before overcoming them on home ice 9-4 last night. Adam Reynolds netted five times in Yorkshire and managed another one 24 hours later, when Karl Culley was the star of the show as he struck four goals.
Northern Stars last night lost 2-1 to Trafford Metros. On Saturday, they were beaten 3-2 at home by Coventry Blaze with Daniel Pye and James Udell on target.
