REPORT: Giants come out on top in Clan rematch

Aspray Glasgow West sponsored Glasgow Clan gave a better account of themselves against the Premier Sports Elite League leaders Belfast Giants, but still fell in a 5-1 loss on the road.

There were improved performances from the visitors in the second meeting in four nights with Tuesday’s win for Belfast still fresh in the memories as Malcolm Cameron’s men looked to make a dent in the Giants’ title hopes.

An early chance from Mathieu Roy forced a decent save from home goalie Tyler Beskorowany, but it was a false dawn as Adam Keefe’s side got a grip on the game.

Scott Conway opened the scoring when he was loose in front of the crease, diverting JJ PIccinich’s pass into the Clan net to draw first blood.

Tyler Soy missed a golden chance to add a second when Jordan Boucher took the puck around the net and laid it on nicely for him, but Soy somehow put it wide.

Giants did get the second before the end of the first as the top line combined again, with Piccinich finding Conway on hand to stab it past Shane Starrett at the bottom right hand corner.

They didn’t need to wait long for another as Griffin Reinhart fired one in from the blue line, with Mark Cooper in the right place to make it 3-0 three minutes into the middle period.

Starrett made an excellent pad save to deny Boucher as he found a way through the centre in space, but Clan’s goalie anticipated it brilliantly.

However Cooper got his second and Giants’ fourth of the game when Slater Doggett rifled into the danger zone, with the Giants man getting the final touch.

Glasgow managed to hit back when Braylon Shmyr took the puck coast to coast and slip it under Beskorowany to finally get something on the board.

Jamie Crooks saw a decent saved a couple of minutes later as they looked for a second, an encouraging sign for the travelling Clan support.

The third period didn’t bring a lot of clear cut chances, although there were some good looks from Clan as they looked to add another to their tally.

But Giants capped things off with a rebound finished by Lewis Hook after Starrett had made an initial save on Cam Knight’s shot, but the GB international was on hand to tuck it away.

Cody Sol hit the bar with a ripper of a shot in the final minute, but the night belonged to Belfast as they edged closer to the league title.

Photos by William Cherry/Press Eye