REPORT: Clan take historic win in Guildford

Two late third period goals ensured Aspray Glasgow West sponsored Glasgow Clan picked up a first ever league road win, taking a 3-1 victory at Guildford Flames.

It was the ninth time Clan had visited the Flames since they joined the Premier Sports Elite League in 2017 and apart from a 3-2 play-off quarter final victory in 2019, Glasgow had never taken two points from the Surrey venue until now.

And they did so with a combination of dogged defending and taking the chances when it mattered as they looked to bounce back from Friday’s 4-2 loss at Cardiff Devils.

The visitors started well, as Mikko Vainonen hit the side of the net and a Liam Stenton chance was blocked, but Shane Starrett was also in good form to repel the Flames attack.

It was the Clan who went ahead late in the first period as a Nolan LaPorte shot just outside the left face off circle flew past Flames goalie Kevin Lindskoug and into the net.

The home side looked to respond when play resumed as Ian Watters tested Starrett then a chance hit the post and at times, Clan had to hold firm under pressure.

They did well in keeping the Flames at bay as Colton Yellow Horn and Cody Sol both overlapped in the penalty box as the home side tried to make the most of a five-on-three opportunity, but couldn’t find a way through.

A couple of early chances from the home team in the third applied some pressure again, with Starrett again feeling stingy, but eventually Guildford did find a way through.

Watters was the man to get it, bundling the puck into the net as a scramble broke out and the Flames had finally found themselves on level terms after 46 minutes.

Former Clan man Mac Howlett picked up a penalty with eight minutes to go with a five plus game kneeing offence in an incident where Matt Haywood needed to come off the ice for treatment.

It was a big opportunity for Clan to take advantage in the closing stages of a closely fought game and they did with three and a half minutes to go.

Tim Shoup dragged the puck into the centre and tried a shot that Lindskoug blocked. Guildford didn’t deal with it as Shoup followed up and exploited the gap to put Clan ahead.

A minute later, Mathieu Roy made things more comfortable by rounding off the victory with a close range finish after he was put in by LaPorte, sealing a huge win for the travelling Clan players.

Photos by John Uwins