Shadows 6 v Peterborough 0
By Hank Marvin

Game two for the Div One girls and a second home game. After seeing off Hull in the
opener, the visitors were the Peterborough Penguins, a team Hank’s only seen once
before, in their own barn a couple or three years ago. Not a memorable day for the result;
more for a certain member of the Shadows forgetting a pretty important bit of left-handed
kit and the all too familiar cry of “Daaadddyyyy!”

No such drama this time around and shortish benches for both teams meant this was
going to be a long game!

I watched the team train Friday night and they seemed up for it. Nice to see a team gel so
quickly and enjoy themselves.

I have to make mention of the other visitor to Ice Sheffield for this fixture; birthday boy
Blaine Evans was reffing. Now, I know many in the game have a few choice words for this
guy, but I like him! We go back a long way and always have a bit of banter on match day.
This game needs characters, and Blaine’s certainly one of them!

Anyway, on to the game and a first period totally dominated by Shadows. The first action
came on 2:35 when Lauren Scruby was sent to sit for a minor interference call. It was hard
to see what difference it made to be honest as Shadows kept the visitors locked in their
own half on the PK. The most frustrating thing about the period was that Shadows just
couldn’t find a way past the visitors minder. Time and time again plays were set up, the
forwards were sent on their way but either went wide to the wings or lost control at the
crucial moment in front of goal. It wasn’t until the final minute that the deadlock was
broken, but it was worth the wait! Emma Brown worked well on the boards and her pass
sent Lauren Scruby on a run on goal. Her finish was spectacular, the backhand shot
nestling in the top corner with the netminder foundering and just 35 secs left on the
period.

It was just the tonic the Shadows needed and a flying start to the second period saw more
good pressure on the Penguins. 2:23 into the period and Emma Brown did her stuff again,
emerging from the corner with the puck, her pass found Emma Johnson in space and she
in turn put the puck on to the stick of Lauren Scruby. Before anyone knew anything about
it, the puck was in the back of the net again, the first time Lauren had scored a double.
59 seconds later, and on the same shift, the duo struck again, Emma Brown set Lauren
Scruby free and the hat-trick came, her shot beating the keeper low to the left. A straight
hat-trick in four minutes, quite an achievement.

A double penalty for Ally Ronksley was the next on the game sheet. 2 for holding and a
second minor for Charging gave Penguins an advantage, halved by a coincidental to
Aimee Smith for a cross check.

Shadows continued to dominate but seemed to have taken the foot off the gas a little.
Penguins had their moments, including a three on one break, but Potter was having none
of it. She smelled a shut-out was on the cards. No further goals in the second as it ended
3-0 in Shadows favour.

To be honest, it appeared game over before the period started. I just couldn’t see a way
back for the visitors who had been totally out-played for the previous 40 minutes. 37
seconds in and a further PP to the visitors, Hazel Wilson receiving a minor for slashing and
some serious words from her clan gathered behind the penalty bench, (or naughty step as
we’ll now call it !!)

A bit of a mix up gifted Penguins another PP for too many men, but once again, Shadows
played the clock down with ease. Potter hadn’t had too much to do, but was on her toes
when she needed to be to prevent a shock score.

Back to full strength, Shadows again dominated and the fourth goal came on 49:04. Emma
Allender was involved early on finding Hazel Wilson with a decent pass. Donna Chambers
made the move on goal and slid the puck home for 4-0.

A further PP opportunity came for Penguins on 52:04. Lauren Scruby in the thick of it
again, called for high sticks. Again Penguins were unable to capitalise and it was one-way
traffic. The final penalty call of the game went against Shadows as Emma Allender sat a
10 minute abuse call, you just shouldn’t upset Blaine on his birthday Emma!

With 4 minutes left, goal five came for the hosts from the stick of Ceri Wilkinson. Another
well worked goal with assists to Hazel Wilson and Potter, who celebrated in some style
when that was announced. Having assisted on the previous two goals, it was fitting that
Hazel Wilson should grab number 6. It came on 58:48 and was nothing less than the line
deserved after working so hard. Assists went to Ally Ronksley and Ceri Wilkinson.

So a 6-0 victory against a very ordinary Peterborough team. It could and probably should
have been double that and on another day probably would have been. That said, another
solid team performance, a shut-out, a hat-trick, some great entertainment, who could ask
for more.

Only one more thing to add really, and that’s well done to two of the girls, Emma Brown for
playing through what sounds like a nasty infection, and Lauren Scruby who found out
she’d been playing and training with Medial Ligament damage.

Get well soon you two, plenty of recovery time before the next game.

Finally, I’d like to add my congratulations to the Prem girls for their performance in Latvia.
From the accounts I’ve heard, you did Sheffield and GB proud against some pretty
formidable opponents.

Until next time

Hank x x x

Look out for the next match report

Hank

Hank Marvin (Sheffield Shadows Reporter)