Kingston Cobras played their first home game of 2016, beating Blackburn Falcons 11-1 in a pre-season friendly.

The two sides will meet again in the Summer Cup.

First Period

Blackburn had the better of the opening five minutes with Cobras spending the majority of it on the penalty kill. Shepherdson picking up a delay of game (puck over glass) at 1.28 and the bench picking up a too many men minor at 2.07 with a dodgy line change. The penalties gave Blackburn a 1.21 five on three advantage, that Cobras managed to quell.

With the penalties over Cobras began to assert themselves on the game and were duly rewarded when Chris Reader opened the scoring with a low finish from in front of the net (8.26).

The game continued in end to end fashion with both sides trading chances, with Blackburn looking the polar opposite of the side that was beaten 18-4 last season.

It would be Kingston who doubled their advantage in the last five minutes of the first through Hogarth (15.09). Undeterred Blackburn continued to plug away and were rewarded when Forrester scored with a fine finish from the top of the circle (17.09)  leaving the score 2-1 at the end of the first period

Second Period

Cobras opened the second period and started to pile the pressure on the Falcons net. Blackburns netminder Buckman made a string of great saves throughout the period to keep Falcons in the tie.

Hogarth added his second (25.11) to extend Cobras lead to 3-1, before Beddoes further extended the lead (32.57) to 4-1.

Kingston continued their onslaught with Stockton and Armitage ringing the post along with some further great saves from Buckman keeping the score at 4-1.

Hudson replaced Smith in Kingston’s goal at the half way point of the game.

Third Period

Going into the third period with the score at 4-1, it had been a well fought, physical game between the two sides. The third period saw Cobras put their foot on the gas and rack up seven goals.

Stockton opened the third period scoring (42.48) before four  goals in a five minute spell put the game beyond Blackburn’s reach. Hogarth completing his hattrick (45.31), Beddoes adding his second (48.14) before Stockton completed his hattrick (49.42) & (50.57).

Falcons called a time out to re-group and the game appeared to be petering out in the closing minutes until Robinson let a couple of cannons go (54.41) & (56.11) to complete the scoring for Cobras (11-1).

Both sides look forward to facing each other in the Summer Cup.

Notes:

Player of the game for Kingston: Chris Hogarth

Player of the game for Blackburn: Gary Buckman

 

Changing room awards:

Hardcore Champion: Rob Brattan

Plug of the game: Andy Daintith

 

Netminders:

Kingston:

Smith: 11/12 shots – 91.66% SV

Hudson 14/14 shots – 100% SV

Blackburn:

Buckman: 31/42 – 73.81% SV