CARDIFF COMETS 0-5 KINGSTON DIAMONDS
6th February 2010

After a series of encouraging performances but no wins against the top four teams the Diamonds went into this fixture against the Comets with real hopes of victory. Cardiff have lost one or two experienced players since last season and their form this season has been less than outstanding with both teams having identical 1-0-5 records. However, the Diamonds cause was not helped by the loss of forwards Meagan Geypens (unavailable) and Sophie Lawton (injured) so a tight game was in prospect.

The long journey did not seem to have affected the Diamonds unduly and they started the match on the attack, keeping possession in the Cardiff end and forcing keeper Emma Hayman to kill the puck. Good work down the boards by Holly Cornford resulted in a chance for Kirsten Deighton but her shot was saved. Cardiff managed to mount a counter attack but Nicole Jackson saved comfortably. Cornford set off on a coast to coast sortie but shot just wide as Kingston remained in control. The first power play arrived on 5.05 with Sarah Hutchinson called for roughing but the Diamonds continued on the front foot and, after Natalie Davies had shot over the bar, Cornford released Leen de Dekker in open ice and she fired past Hayman on 6.08 (1-0). Cardiff hit back and Bethan Williams was one on one with Jackson but the keeper pulled off an excellent save and, having killed the penalty, the Diamonds returned to the attack with Cornford firing high and wide. On 9.58 Kingston were caught by a quick counter attack and Katie Firth took a tripping penalty as she tried to recover. However, only 10 seconds later both sides were down to 4 as Davies was hauled down. The Comets’ best move of the game so far saw Jenny Ball set up Williams but Jackson again saved well from point blank range. Hutchinson made an effective screen in front of Hayman but Davies just missed the target as Jackson disappeared to the bench for an extra skater with Kingston having a long delayed penalty on Williams for tripping on 11.34. A sweeping move involving Kelly Drechsler, Cornford, de Dekker and Hutchinson finished with another Hayman save. There was a long delay as one of the Cardiff players fell awkwardly and had to be carefully helped from the ice but when hostilities restarted it was the Diamonds who were on the attack. Deighton saw a couple of goal bound shots saved and Beth Davis also had a half chance before the Comets mounted a dangerous counter attack which ended with Cornford deflecting a shot over the bar. Firth passed out of defence to Davies whose shot forced a big rebound but Hutchinson’s follow up was saved. Jackson was then called into action twice, first saving from Williams and then turning away another shot after Cardiff had a 3 on 2 break. Hutchinson immediately took the puck straight up the other end of the ice and forced Hayman to save and shortly afterwards a neat reverse pass from Davis opened up the defence for Becky Craig who shot wide as the clock ticked down.

Seconds before the hooter Hutchinson had been called for a trip so the Diamonds started the second period on the penalty kill. However, a fast attack by Davies ended with Hayman saving with some difficulty. Kingston comfortably saw off the penalty and continued to look the more likely to score. Cornford and Williams tangled and ended up colliding with the Cardiff net but the game had become rather scrappy with plenty of passes going astray for both sides. Cornford found de Dekker in space but her shot was saved as was a blue line effort from Davies. Davies’ next involvement was to get penalized for elbows but with the help of a good save from Jackson the penalty was once again killed. The Comets then had their best spell of the game with some pressure bringing a full length save from Jackson. Kingston weathered that mini storm and finally extended their lead on 30.30 when Davies cracked home a loose puck (2-0). De Dekker had a shot saved after a deft interception in the Comets’ end but the home sides’ cause was not helped when Williams took a slightly harsh interference minor and the Diamonds controlled the puck well. Drechsler went close from the point and Davies set up Hutchinson who was even closer as her shot came back off the post. The same combination created another chance soon after and the Kingston pressure finally told on 35.27 when Craig passed to Kimberley Hughes who fired low across the keeper and inside the far post (3-0). Williams was still proving dangerous for Cardiff and sent a shot on target but Jackson pouched the puck cleanly. De Dekker, Davies and Hughes put together a nice passing move near the end of the period that finished with a big scramble as Kingston tried to make the most of a late power play.

The Diamonds started the third period on the power play and a Davies pass was almost converted by Hutchinson, who then nearly redirected a big shot from the blue line by Cornford into the net. De Dekker cleverly made space close in and got a shot away while Davis had another shot saved. A combination of vigilant defence and a Jackson save saw off a Cardiff counter attack but, as in the first two periods, the Diamonds were controlling possession and territory and it was no surprise when they extended their lead on 45.19 when a superb pass from Cornford split the defence and de Dekker finished expertly, giving the keeper no chance with an angled shot (4-0). The Comets had a chance to get on the scoreboard when Drechsler was banished for slashing but again Kingston coped easily with the power play. The visitors were content to consolidate their lead and the game became disjointed as Cardiff tried unsuccessfully to get some fluency into their passing. Davies skated in on goal but her shot was saved before a Diamonds’ boarding penalty called on 54.08 saw Deighton visiting the box for two minutes. Jackson saved a long shot with ease and once back to full strength Davies and de Dekker opened up the home defence only for Davies to lose control at the last minute. However, on 58.25 her persistence was rewarded as she registered an unassisted goal to finish off the scoring (5-0) leaving the Diamonds to simply run down the clock to preserve their shut out.

This was a solid team performance from a weakened squad and moved the Diamonds above Cardiff in a congested bottom half of the table. The shut out was especially pleasing and was the first for Nicole Jackson in Kingston colours. Leen de Dekker took the Spirit of the Game award and the Diamonds should take confidence from a good road win against a team that beat them here last season as they move towards their home games.