A couple of early Giants goals that the Flames could just never answer put Belfast on a good start to a 4-0 win in leg 1 of the Cup semi final with Spectrum’s men owing a leg 2 visit to Northern Ireland next Wednesday that will start with Flames 4 goals adrift in the aggregate series.
Giants got it started at 9:04 through David Goodwin. Scott Conway doubled the difference in the 13th minute and they held that lead through the first break.
Flames had a couple of powerplay chances in the middle set, but couldn’t cut into the deficit and burned through 40 minutes still 2 goals off the pace.
Inside the last 9 minutes, the visitors added on another with a Mark Cooper powerplay strike and, with a 4 on 3 Giants powerplay during a Flames double minor alongside existing penalties to each side, Goodwin’s 2nd closed the book on the 4-0 defeat of Spectrum’s men.
“We won’t surprise anyone by saying it’s disappointing to come out of there with that kind of spread in the opening leg,” explained Paul Dixon.
“We played well in the 1st period and it was maybe a little unlucky that we were unable to at least be even with them at that stage.”
“Going into the 3rd we still felt like we were right with them, but we just couldn’t find the kind of look we needed to cut into their lead and then they made the most of some powerplays to put the night out of reach.”
“We can’t do anything about it now. We have to set ourselves again for the upcoming league action then next week head to Belfast with a nothing to lose attitude and see what we can do in the 2nd leg to try and get back into it.”
