REPORT: Cardiff Devils 1 Glasgow Clan 3 (Clan win 6-5 on aggregate)

Photos by James Assinder

Aspray Glasgow West sponsored Glasgow Clan moved into the semi finals of the Challenge Cup after claiming a 3-1 win on the night in Cardiff and a 6-5 aggregate success.

It’s the fourth time in the club’s history they’ve reached the last four as they finally took victory over a Devils team they’ve yet to beat this season.

Cardiff’s objective was clear in the opening stages as they looked to increase the aggregate gap, with Cole Sanford hitting the post to fire a shot across the Clan bows.

A chance from Bryce Reddick at the blue line tested Devils netminder Ben Bowns, but the visitors took the lead to bring the tie level as Gary Haden’s wraparound put Glasgow ahead.

Reid Petryk could have added a second after he took on a Charlie Combs pass, but Bowns again was equal to a good chance.

Clan went two in front and edged in front on aggregate as Combs teed up Jake Bolton, who blasted home from the blue line.

Devils regrouped and came out the better of the two sides in the second period As Mark Richardson was unlucky to see his shorthanded chance go over.

But the home side found their way on to the scoresheet on a delayed penalty as River Rymsha helped Josh Waller, who slotted his shot low past Clan netminder Jake Kielly.

The tie was level at 5-5 on aggregate and all to play for as both sides did their best to get their noses in front again.

Combs shot narrowly wide while Alex Roach’s chance was dealt with by Bowns, while up the other end, Brandon Alderson’s shot in the centre struck the iron.

Kielly was also forced to deny Evan Mosey from close range as a chance opened up for the home side, to which Clan’s netminder stood tall.

Darien Craighead restored the two-goal lead early in the third when he was on hand to stroke the puck into the Cardiff net from Reece Kelly’s assist.

Jason Morgan’s side had to withstand some pressure from the home team as they looked to draw themselves level in the tie, with Kielly denying Alderson with a point blank save.

Petryk nearly killed the Devils off as a turnover landed on his stick, only to be denied by Bowns in the final minutes of the game with a scrambling save.

But Clan held on in the final minutes as Devils couldn’t find a way, with the buzzer confirming their passage into the semi finals.