Flames take first win of season

Photo: John Uwins

Guildford Flames got their first win of the season at the third attempt with a 3-2 win over Coventry Blaze in Challenge cup action on Saturday night.

Coming in off a three-point haul from opening weekend, Tyler Kirkup gave the Blaze an excellent start with the opening goal after just 123 seconds as he fired high over Taz Burman from just over the blue line. The Blaze had the edge in shots by one after the opening 20 minutes, and that was the difference between the teams at the end of the period. 

Guildford turned the game around in the second with a pair of goals in just under 12 minutes. Ryan Tait tied things up at 25:08 on a bizarre play where Mike Crocock's pass deflected off him on the wall, bounced awkwardly past a couple of sticks and through Taran Kozun. Peter Crinella then gave the hosts the lead with 3:01 left in period two, a little over three minutes after the hosts failed to convert a penalty shot.

5:23 into the third, Lewis Hook tapped in at the back post to give the Flames some breathing space off a Turner Ripplinger pass, however that two-goal cushion lasted just 67 seconds until James Shearer followed up his own shot and put the rebound past Burman.

A late 6-on-5 saw the Blaze push for an equaliser but without success, and they slipped to their first defeat of the season.