Report

GAME REPORT: Clan edge five goal thriller in Fife

September 8, 2019

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Fife Flyers 2 Glasgow Clan 3

Zack Fitzgerald got his first win as Glasgow Clan coach, but the team was made to work for it in a tight five-goal thriller against Fife Flyers in the Challenge Cup.

It was another entertaining chapter in the relatively short history of this fixture and Fife were the better of the two teams in the early stages of the contest as they tried to assert themselves.

A couple of early chances, both from Paul Crowder, looked threatening, but Patrick Killeen, in the Clan goal looked more than ready for them.

By the end of the first, the game was goalless and could have gone either way, but there was already an improvement from the Clan defence after last week’s losses to Dundee Stars.

A James Isaacs penalty from tripping led to the opening goal from the Clan as Chad Rau set up Mathieu Roy, who had space to fire his shot into the roof of the net.

Flyers were down Isaacs again on a slashing call as Zack Fitzgerald’s side made the advantage count once again with Rau applying the finish from Travis Ehrhardt’s blasted shot.

The home side couldn’t seem to find their early rhythm as confidence started to flow through the Clan, compounded by a third goal in the first few minutes of the third.

Shorthanded, Scott Tanski found himself in a one-on-one situation with Fife goalie Adam Morrison, which he duly finished and Glasgow were three up and looking good.

With under ten minutes to go, Roy was called for spearing, a decision that saw him out for the rest of the game and was the trigger for the Flyers to start clawing their way back into the game.

Danick Gauthier was first to make a mark as their comeback began, followed over a minute later by Tim Crowder on the powerplay as a once comfortable three-goal cushion was shortened to a nervy one.

It set up an exciting final few minutes as Fife pushed for the equaliser, including a top save from Killeen as he dealt with a deflected shot.

Morrison was pulled in the last minute, but Glasgow held on for their first win of the season, made all the more enjoyable that it gave the fans bragging rights over their Kirkcaldy rivals for a few weeks anyway.

Goal highlights & interviews: