September 5th Home Bristol Pitbulls 9 Wightlink Tigers 3- ENL CUP

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BRISTOL PITBULLS 13 SLOUGH HARRIER HAWKS 2-ENL SOUTH DIVISION 2

Cardiff Satans 2 Bristol Pitbulls 2-ENL Division 2 South-20/09/09

October 3rd Bristol Pitbulls 6 Basingstoke Buffalo 2-ENL Cup South Section

October 17th Bristol Pitbuls 5 Cardiff Dragons 4

Bristol Pitbulls 9 Wightlink Tigers 3

Bristol Pitbulls finished comprehensive winners over Wightlink in this cup clash thanks to a late flurry of goals. The game was closer than the scoreline suggests, with Tigers competing on equal terms for the best part of the opening two periods, before Pitbulls upped their game late on and overwhelmed the visitors with some clinical attacking play and finishing.

Pitbulls got off to a great start as they opened the scoring with just 1.43 on the board. With referee Deceax arm raised for a delayed penalty Pitbulls took advantage as Richie Hargreaves was perfectly placed in front of net to fire home from Mike Smith's left wing centre. At 2.07 Paul Davies had a chance to make it 2-0 as he broke 1 on 1 with Tigers netminder Aaron Taylor, but his shot was saved.

Pitbulls continued there lively start to the game as a breakaway down ice finished with Jamie Chilcots fierce slapshot being well held by Taylor at 5.21. Luke Merrick and Steve Osman then combined to carve open the Tigers defence in the 7th minute with Merrick left wide open, but his shot stayed out. Tigers 1st real scoring chance came at 7.26 as a loose puck fell to Chris Randall in front of net, but Pitbulls netminder John Dibble made the save.

Straight after this Pitbulls made it 2-0 following a quick break down ice. Richie Hargreaves found space at the back post and finished off Sam Hayman's right wing centre at 7.36. It had been all Pitbulls so far and Tigers tried to claw their way into the game, as Jason Coles teed up Michael Palin in the Pitbulls zone and his one timer was turned away by Dibble at 10.28. Tigers then pulled it back to a one goal game at 11.17. Dibble saved Richard Nembhards shot, a scramble round net developed that ended with Adam Rich poking home a loose puck.

Tigers quickly drew level as the momentum of the game dramatically shifted. Pitbulls where left short handed at 11.38 and the visitors struck on the powerplay. Ricky Attrills pass from behind the net found Palin in front of net to fire a low shot into the net at 12.59. The rest of the period was an even contest, with Tigers two strikes bringing them firmly into the game after a slow start. Osman had a good opportunity at 14.52 as he get in on net with just Taylor to beat but the netminder came up big with the save. Pitbulls finished the period short handed following a high sticks penalty to Richie Hargreaves at 19.44 and tied at 2-2 after Tigers comeback following their dominant start to the game.

Pitbulls killed the remainder of Hargreaves's minor at the start of the 2nd period. They got back on the attack as Osman skated in on net before unleashing a big slap shot that Taylor did well to hold at 23.50. The game continued at a good pace with no real chances until Pitbulls broke the deadlock at 29.06. Some great stick handling by Osman saw him weave his way through the Tigers 'D' with Taylor saving his shot but import Adrian Esposito was on hand to fire home the rebound from close range.

The lead proved short lived, however as Tigers tied the game within three minutes. Tony Blaize latched onto a clearance out the Defensive zone and skated down the right wing before firing into the corner of the net at 31.44 to make it 3-3. The re start saw a couple more chances for Pitbulls as Chilcot was picked out in front of net at 32.36, but couldn't lift the puck over Taylor and then Tom Evans found space to shoot but fired over at 34.27. Pitbulls where back in front at 36.53 as the puck was fired across the Tigers zone to Osman who coolly took the puck to the net before slotting it into the net past Taylor at 36.53. A 2nd period of few chances ended 4-3 to Pitbulls, with all still to play for going into the 3rd period for both sides.

The first goal action of the 3rd period saw Palin rushing the puck forward for Tigers and unleashing a big slap shot that Dibble saved at 40.30. Pitbulls then made it a 2 goal game at 41.23, as Hayman found Hargreaves to fire home a low shot from close range. This was closely followed by Pitbulls only power play of the game, as Blaize picked up a holding minor at 44.22, but Tigers withstood the Pitbulls pressure with the extra man and returned to full strength. Another Pitbulls rush forward finished with Richie Hargreaves shot from an acute angle from the right wing being turned away by Taylor at 47.20.

Pitbulls further extended their advantage at 51.22 as they broke 2 on 1 and Richie Hargreaves teed up his brother Mike to shoot past Taylor to make it 6-3 and to ultimately end Tigers challenge. The final moments of the game where all Pitbulls as Tigers captivated under their relentless attacking play. It was 7-3 as 52.26 as Chilcot's long range wrist shot flew into the roof of the net, a fine goal from the youngster. Richie Hargreaves notched goal no 8 at 54.55 as another long range wrist shot found the net. Osman then made it 4 goals for Pitbulls in 4 minutes 27 seconds as Esposito's pass from the left wing from behind the Tigers net found him to score at 55.49. With the game well over as a contest, Pitbulls ran the clock down with no problems to finish 9-3 winners which gets their cup campaign off to a great start. Tom Egerton and Jason Coles took the respective MOTM awards and Pitbulls can be pleased with their performance, with the hockey played at the start of the 1st and in the closing stages of the game particularly impressive, as they moved the puck around well and took their chances extremely well. They will hoping their good start continues long into the season.

With a big win the night before the pitbulls made hard work of the return leg. After conceding an early goal Adrian esposito open the scoring for the pitbulls. This saw the pitbulls take control scoring two unanswered goals to see the period out. Goals coming from joe lock and mike smith. The first period unfortunately saw a horrible hit on young jamie chilcott which saw the end of his night and the offending player kick out of the game with a match penalty. With tempers raised the pitbulls came out for the second with their heads still in the changing. The pitbulls scored first through SAM hayman but never got into top gear losing the period 3-2. The other goal coming from rich Hargreaves, which was a bullet breaking a whole through the net. The pitbulls started the third period with a one goal lead, but nine minutes in they saw the tigers equalize prompting coach Hargreaves to call a time out. This had the desired effect with esposito scoring with in two minutes. This was the start of the end as esposito scored his third and mike smith scoring his second to finish off the night. The pitbulls finished the night top team in the enl cup. Coach Hargreaves commented that despite making hard work of it tonight the boys showed the desire to hold onto the win. With a special mention going to Jamie chilcott who showed the heart of a lion being told for his own health to sit the rest of the game out.

Bristol Pitbulls started their League campaign in the best possible way with a comprehensive victory over the Harrier Hawks. The scoreline was a perfect reflection of the game, which saw Pitbulls dominate throughout and lay siege to the Hawks net.

The game began with Hawks Chris Rost going on a big skate forward, but Pitbulls netminder Laurence Lawson was quick to come out of net and poke check the puck clear. Sam Shone then picked up a hooking penalty for the visitors and Pitbulls struck on the resulting powerplay. Pitbulls set up play well in the Hawks zone and a good passing move saw Sam Hayman teeing up Richie Hargreaves to fire a low shot past Will Sanderson in the Slough net at 1.07.

The next real action saw Evander Grinell bring a good glove saw from Lawson from a fierce slapshot at 4.09. Pitbulls where still testing Sanderson again as Paul Davies broke down the left wing and rifled in a fierce shot that was turned away. Sanderson then pulled off a fine double save, firstly turning away Tom Evans low shot and then reacting quickly to turn away the follow up from Liam Williams at 6.28.

It was no surprise when Pitbulls made it 2-0 with a excellent goal from Adrian Esposito. He picked up the puck and rove the net, rounding a Hawks d man and then Sanderson before slotting the puck into the net at 7.47. The 3rd followed just 56 seconds later as Pitbulls again set up play nicely in the Hawks note and Esposito found Mike Hargreaves lurking on the far right of the Hawks zone and he shot the puck into the top corner. Pitbulls kept attacking with the Hawks unable to respond and it was 4-0 at 12.49, as Mike Hargreaves fired the puck across goal and Mike Smith was perfectly placed on the edge of the goalie crease to beat Sanderson.

Pitbulls where short handed for the 1st time at 14.05 as Mike Smith was penalised for slashing. However it was Pitbulls who came closest to scoring on the short handed play, as Richie Hargreaves broke down the left wing and centered for Jamie Chilcot crashing the net, but he couldn't force the puck past Sanderson at 15.10. Back at full strength Pitbulls continued on the offensive and it was no surprise when the 5th followed at 18.55, courtesy of the Hargreaves brothers as Mike finished from Richie's left wing pass. The period ended with a goal completely against the run of play from the Hawks at 19.08 and a penalty against Pitbulls that left them facing a four minute short handed spell at the beginning of the 2nd.

The 2nd began with Pitbulls well in control. Hawks began on the powerplay and a good passing move between Grinell and Chris Rost 22.25, saw the move the puck quickly down ice and finished with Lawson turning away Rosts shot. A penalty against Hawks at 24.25 then gave Pitbulls the extra man and they had the puck in the net again at 24.38, but the goal was washed out and a penalty given to Esposito to even things up again. The 4 on 4 play saw a scoring chance a-piece as Pitbulls won a face off in the Hawks zone and the puck was played across to Davies, whose one timer was kept out by Sanderson. Grinell went on a big skate forward for Hawks, seeing his fierce shot well held by Lawson at 28.36. Pitbulls made it 6-1 soon after with 29.03 on the clock, as they again set up play well in the Hawks zone and patiently worked the puck around, creating an opening for Mike Hargreaves who made no mistake with a low shot into the net.

Hawks where short handed again at 29.44 as they collected another minor penalty but kept Pitbulls at bay this time. They then thought they had got a 2nd goal at 32.05 after a scramble round net, but it was washed by referee Freeman as he deemed that the puck had been kicked over the line. Pitbulls got there 7th despite being short handed at 34.07 as Esposito got his 2nd of the night. The goals started to flow as Pitbulls then tallied 2 in 20 seconds. It was 8-1 at 36.57 as Mike Smith completed his hat trick, another neat passing move between Mike and Richie Hargreaves finished off by Smith with a shot into the left hand corner. Pitbulls then raced down ice straight from the re start and Davies quickly got to the net to score at 37.07. The 2nd period ended 9-1 and there had only been one team in it with plenty more goals for Pitbulls seeming inevitable in the final period.

The 2nd began with Hawks Rost losing his cool and collecting a 2 + 10 roughing penalty at 41.17. Pitbulls went into double figures with their 3rd powerplay goal of the game. Richie Hargreaves slid the puck inside from the left wing to Esposito to fire a fierce wrist shot past Sanderson at 43.02.

Pitbulls piled on the pressure as Richie Hargreaves found space behind the Pitbulls 'D' only for Sanderson to stack the pads and save his close range effort at 44.08. The Pitbulls coach then collected a roughing minor at 44.55 and Hawks pulled one back on the resulting powerplay at 46.30. Lawson saved Ollie Finnegan's shot but the rebound fell straight to Tom Meare who fired a one timer into the net.

The teams then picked up a minor penalty a-piece and the spell of 4 on 4 play saw Pitbulls scoring again at 47.44. Pitbulls pressured around the Hawks net, the visitors not able to clear their zone and eventually Joe Lock played the puck across net to Mike Smith to score from point blank range. Hawks had a great chance to get another consolation marker as closely timed penalties to Chilcot for holding the opponents stick at 50.05 and then Davies for holding at 50.20 gave them a long 5 on 3 powerplay, but such was Pitbulls dominance Hawks where unable to create a scoring opportunity on it.

Soon after returning to full strength Pitbulls ran in goal number 12. They where again allowed plenty of time in the Hawks zone to pass the puck around and Richie Hargreaves fired a one timer past Sanderson from a pass from Sam Hayman at 53.21. After this Esposito had a great chance to score, as Hawks where caught too far up ice and he had half the length of the rink to skate in on Sanderson, but the netminder made an excellent save at 54.42. But he was beaten seconds later at 55.24. Pitbulls cleared their zone and Chilcot did well to control a bouncing puck, beat the defenceman, skating in on net before firing into the left hand corner from an difficult angle. The game finished with one more minor penalty each but no further scoring. It had been a dominant performance by Pitbulls, with no sign of any complacency against a team who where much weaker then them and a pleasing performance with several players getting on the scoresheet. Liam Williams was MOTM for Pitbulls.

Bristol Pitbulls came away from their toughest game so far this season with a point against the Cardiff Satans. Satans caused problems for Pitbulls all night with their fast skating forwards and used their full bench of 22 players (Most of whom are nameless due to no programme and no names on their shirts!) to good effect against a Pitbulls team looking weary from their game the night before, with a late goal from Richie Hargreaves ensuring that the Pitbulls got something from the game against a team that looks sure to be up with them at the top of the table.

Cardiff started the better as they hit the pipework with 1.54 on the clock. The game began in a lively fast paced fashion with both sides exchanging attacks. It was the Satans that took the lead at 6.26 as a 2 on 1 breakaway ended with a Cardiff forward winding up and firing a big slapshot beyond Laurence Lawson in the Pitbulls net.

There was more pressure on the Pitbulls at 7.05 following a hooking penalty to Luke Merrick, but the Pitbulls withstood the Cardiff pressure whilst short-handed. At 10.19 a loose puck fell kindly to Adrian Esposito well placed in front of net but he shot wide. An defensive error from the hosts at 13.12 gave Pitbulls another chance, as the puck was coughed up straight to Mike Smith who skated in on net before seeing his shot turned away by the Satans netminder. Joe Lock then saw a low shot saved by the netminders outstretched pad at 16.59. Following this there was a melee in front of net which resulted in a roughing penalty against Cardiff at 17.02. The resulting powerplay saw a scramble in front of net before Esposito poked the puck over the line at 17.08.

The 1st period ended with a hooking penalty to Mike Hargreaves at 17.27, but the Pitbulls penalty kill was again successful and ended with the score still tied at 1-1.

The 2nd period started in tight fashion, flowing nicely end to end with neither team able to create any real scoring chances. The 24th minute saw Sam Hayman and then Luke Merrick both bringing saves from the Satans netminder. Pitbulls where short handed again at 25.58 as Tom Evans began the latest recipient of a hooking minor and the powerplay saw Satans going close but being denied by a couple of good saves from Lawson.

The next chance went to the Pitbulls at around the half way mark of the game, as some good work from Richie Hargreaves saw him find space in the Satans zone and a good pass found Paul Davies whose well struck shot was again kept out. A 4th successive hooking call was given against Pitbulls at 30.13, Merrick making his 2nd trip to the penalty box of the game.. Satans pinned Pitbulls in their own zone before they managed to clear and Hayman almost grabbed a short handed goal from Pitbulls, as he appeared to have beaten the netminder before he just managed to pull the puck from the goal line in the 32nd minute.

Pitbulls where then unlucky at 34.12 as a loose puck fell to Jamie Chilcot in front of net and his shot came back off the pipework. A big hit from Hayman at 35.20 pleased the travelling support but not the referee as he gave the Pitbulls player a boarding minor. The Pitbulls again defended well and saw it off, with a penalty then given against Cardiff at 37.08. The powerplay saw Richie Hargreaves and Marc Roy Smith linking up nicely in the Satans zone, with the latters pass from behind the net finding Hargreaves whose one timer was saved. Pitbulls then struck the pipework from the 2nd time in just a few moments, this time Mike Smith's shot from just over the blue line rang the iron. Richie Hargreaves then collected a harsh interference minor, when he appeared to be shooting the puck at the time at 38.07 and the 2nd period ended with the game still tied at 1-1 and nothing between the teams, although Pitbulls had been very unlucky to hit the pipework twice in the period.

The 3rd began with Mike Smith denied by an excellent reflex save from close range at 41.46. Satans then took control as they found the net at 43.33 after a good passing move to regain the lead. Pitbulls soon had an opportunity to hit back after a tripping minor against the hosts at 45.52, but despite piling on the pressure as they worked the puck patiently around the Cardiff zone the puck stayed out, with Paul Davies seeing a low shot kept out by the netminder's outstretched pad.

Soon after Cardiff had returned to full strength, a mistake on a line change left then with too many men on the ice and they received a bench minor penalty at 48.23. Pitbulls called a time out, but soon lost the man advantage as Esposito was penalised for tripping at 49.25. A Cardiff breakaway saw the pipework hit for the 4th time in the game at 52.54. Just over a minute later it was 2-2 as Richie Hargreaves got across the goal and although his low shot lacked power it crept through the net minderss pads at 53.55, a cruel blow for the Satans netminder who had been excellent all night until this point.

The closingstages saw Pitbulls have a great chance to win as Mike Smith broke away with just the netminder to beat but he came up big with the save and neither side could break the deadlock as they came ended 2-2, a fair reflection of an entertaining fast paced game that could have gone either way between two teams that will have promotion aspirations this season.

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Bristol saw off a determined challenge from visitors Basingstoke to extend their unbeaten start to the season and make it 3 wins from 3 in the ENL Cup.

The first real action of the game came in the 4th minute as Pitbulls strung together a few passes to open up the Buffalo defence and Buffalo net minder Alec Field had to be on hand to save Luke Merricks shot and then a follow up from the rebound. Field was in action again at 5.32 as the puck was slid inside from the left wing and Paul Davies fired in a wrist shot that the netminder kept out. Buffalo opened the scoring at 7.09 as Pitbulls netminder John Dibble was unable to hold a fierce blueline strike from Tom Pope and the loose puck was bundled over the line.

Pitbulls where stung into action by this quickly going on the attack as a breakaway ended with Richie Hargreaves being denied from close range by Field at 8.01. A defensive error then saw the puck given up to Buffalo's Daniel Goodchild who skated in on net and went on the backhand with Dibble making the save at 8.57.

Pitbulls where then left short handed following a charging penalty to Marc Roy Smith at 9.22, but held out with only a slapshot from Pope bringing a save from Dibble at 11.18. Pitbulls then tied the game at 13.00. The puck was played across the Buffalo zone and the visitors did not react quickly enough to clear, allowing Merrick to get to it first and fire into low into the net.

Buffalo should have re taken the lead at 15.34, but Matthew Lawday somehow missed a wide open net after a good passing move had seen Buffalo get behind the Pitbulls defence. Field then pulled off a good save from Mike Hargreaves fierce slapshot from the point at 16.36, just reaching it with his outstretched pad. But he was beaten at 17.31, by an fine strike from Sam Hayman who picked up a loose puck and his wrist shot from just over the blue line flew into the roof of the net. The final action of the period saw Steve Osman skating in on net and winding up to fire in a big slap shot that Field saved at 19.33. The period ended with Pitbulls 2-1 up and looking the better side after a slow start that saw Buffalo initially go ahead.

The 2nd started with Pitbulls on the attack. Field denied the Pitbulls again with a sharp glove save from a Jamie Chilcot one timer from close range at 20.41. Richie Hargreaves was then brought down behind Buffalo's goal by Lee Hardy at 25.20 and the Buffalo player received a slashing minor. This gave Pitbulls a powerplay play only for them to be punished for pushing too far up ice, allowing Neil Leary to tie the game with a short handed goal.

The re start saw Osman dispatched to the bin at 27.15 on a high sticks penalty and Hardy then returned to put Buffalo on the powerplay, only for Pitbulls to then score a short handed goal. An excellent hit by Mike Smith saw him win the puck from a Buffalo d-man and score with a low shot at 28.25 to make it 3-2.The re start saw a flurry minute misconduct penalties. Mark Pitts was given an illegal equipment misconduct as the team lined up to re start the game, then Osman was binned with a 2 + 10 checking from behind penalty after a hit behind the Buffalo net at 29.26. Richie Hargreaves followed with the 3rd misconduct call at 30.15, presumably for comments made to referee Boynton.

The teams then had a quick exchange of chances, as Joe Lock teed up Luke Merrick who fired over at 31.32, then Dibble was in action for the Pitbulls as he dived forward to deny Hardy from close range at 31.49. Pitbulls extended their lead at 36.43 with a well worked goal. They pinned Buffalo in their own zone for a long spell with some neat passing and eventually the pressure told, Hayman's shot from a right wing centre was saved by Field but Marc Roy Smith was perfectly placed in front of net to convert the rebound.

Pitbulls where then put on the penalty kill following a minor on Lock, but saw this off with few alarms. The period ended with Field denying Merrick and Paul Davies and ended with Pitbulls leading 4-2 after a period dominated by penalty calls and that had seen few scoring chances.

The final period begun with Adrian Esposito being felled by Chris Beauclerk and the resulting penalty putting Pitbulls on the powerplay. Buffalo where able to kill the penalty with few alarms with Pitbulls unable to test Field. Then Pitbulls where dealt a major blow with 44.43 on the clock as a hit by Richie Hargreaves behind the goal saw a Buffalo player down injured on the ice, and Hargreaves where given a 5 + game penalty. As Hargreaves headed for the locker room Pitbulls where under pressure facing a 5 minute short handed spell. Buffalo where quick to set up play in the Pitbulls zone and passed the puck around well. But Pitbulls held firm, closing down the Buffalo quickly as they tried to create a shooting opportunity and they survived the lengthy short handed spell without conceding.

However the penalty trouble continued for Pitbulls as Esposito was penalised for hooking at 50.20, and Tom Evans followed for cross checking 7 seconds later giving Buffalo a long 5 on 3 powerplay chance., but another great effort on the penalty kill saw Buffalo denied again. Pitbulls then virtually sealed the game back at full strength, Mike Smith picking out Paul Davies to score from close range at 53.24.

Buffalo then had a breakaway that ended with Dibble saving Padwick's slapshot from an tight angle and reacting quickly to stop the follow up at 55.00. Pitbulls then made it 6-2 with another good goal, as Osman's cross ice pass set Esposito free down the right wing to drive the net and finish with a shot into the top corner of the net at 56.44. The closing stages saw a penalty to Mike Hargreaves for interference at 58.15, and then Field denied Hayman his 2nd goal with a good stop as the Pitbulls forward got behind the defence at 59.19.

Neil Leary and Esposito picked up the MOTM awards and Pitbulls can be pleased with another good all round performance, that saw them create some good opportunities up front on a regular basis and saw them finish well, with the penalty kill also very effective especially during the final period when it was required the most.