REPORT: Braehead Clan 2 Fife Flyers 2 (Agg 3-4)

An overtime winner from TJ Caig broke Braehead hearts as Fife Flyers booked a place in next week’s play-off finals in Nottingham.

Tonight’s second leg was as nervy and as tense as expected after last night’s 2-1 loss in Kirkcaldy, but sadly for Clan, they miss out on another final four flourish.

After losing two late goals last night, what promised to be a whirlwind start was certainly the case as both sides started with a high tempo.

Clan had a great opportunity when Toni Dahlman was put through to find himself one on one with Flyers goalie David Brown, who did enough to deny the Finn.

Alex Leavitt hit the post with a chance shortly after, as Stefan Meyer turned provider before Ryan Dingle did the same for Flyers.

Dahlman saw another good chance zip wide as Braehead turned up the pressure, but didn’t have much luck in terms of finishing.

Brown did well to block Jamie Fritsch’s low blue line chance before Chris Holt made a good save from Nicholas Rioux.

The breakthrough finally came as Leavitt’s chance was enough to distract Brown from his crease, allowing Marcus Gotz finished off the rebound.

A goal up on the night to square the tie overall was the first step as the game moved into the third period and you could sense the tension in the air around Braehead Arena from both fans.

Clan went for it in the final period and in one chance, Matt Keith, Meyer and Scott Aarssen all put efforts in, but somehow the Flyers remained protected.

TJ Caig levelled for Flyers on the night with a well struck diagonal shot that left Holt well beaten as the opposition fans celebrated.

But their anxiety came back when Scott Pitt tipped in an Aarssen chance from close range to restore the lead on the night.

The game moved into overtime and when it came to fine margins, it was the visitors that took the tie when Caig turned in a close range effort to kick off wild celebrations from the Fife support.

All of a sudden the season was over and while the feeling of utter disappointment was clear for all to see, the fans applauded their heroes in purple off the ice for the last time this season.