REPORT: Braehead Clan 4 Belfast Giants 5

Two goals each from Scott Pitt and Mike Hammond weren’t enough as Braehead Clan were edged in a 5-4 contest with Elite League title hopefuls Belfast Giants.

It was a whirlwind opening few minutes of the game when four goals were shared between the two teams as both goalies were beaten.

Mike Hammond showed wonderful skill to deke past Brandon Benedict before firing his shot past Stephen Murphy for the opening goal.

Then the game side doubled the lead when Hammond turned provider to set up Scott Pitt, who thrashed home a one timer.

Giants pulled one back through Mike Forney, who took a pass from Chris Higgins and fired his shot past Michal Zajkowski in Braehead’s goal.

Then he did it again a couple of minutes later to pick up his second of the game as Derrick Walser’s side wiped out the two-goal deficit,

The visitors then took the lead in the last minute of the first period as Mark Garside’s low diagonal effort found its way in and the Giants were in front.

Braehead levelled the game at three apiece in the second period as Pitt tucked away his second of the game from a Hammond reverse pass.

But Giants retook their advantage when James Desmarais finished a one-time shot set up by Steve Saviano on the powerplay to make it 4-3.

Hammond picked up his second of the night when he got the final touch on a Zach Sullivan blue line shot.

But Forney completed his hat-trick with a back post finish as Belfast edged the points on a close contest.