Paisley Pirates – Match Report

Pirates raced to an opening 10-0 win against a Kilmarnock side which, in spite of the score line, refused to give in at any stage, in a match which was not lacking in incident.

The home side, resplendent in their new look outfits and icing no fewer than SIX newcomers who had not featured in last year’s squad, were off the mark inside the first two minutes as Riddell opened the scoring, and in spite of a steady flow towards Russell in the visitors’ goal, it was not until almost the halfway point in the session that the floodgates opened, with Campbell netting a brace, Bain scoring on the powerplay, and Guy netting shorthanded, to take the game well away from the visitors by the end of the first period with the score standing at 5-0.

Into the second session, and while Meechan was equal to the occasional foray forward by the Storm, most of the action was around Russell, as Guy scored his own second, and Pirates’ 6^th goal, in the 26^th minute. Hepburn replaced Meechan after 28 minutes, and before the halfway marker the match exploded in a bout of handbags as former Pirates Underwood and Watson engaged with Bain, Guy and Johnston, all five players receiving minor penalties for Roughing. With the flow continuing to ebb towards the Kilmarnock goal, it was no great surprise when Bain forced home his second in the 35^th minute, and the period ended somewhat sedately as Pirates headed for the dressing room 7-0 ahead.

With the destination of the league points long since decided, both goals remained intact until the latter stages of the game, when after 52 minutes another fracas saw Bain and Johnston for the home team, and Young and Kearsley for the visitors, sit out multiple minors, and once normality was stored Pirates finished the game with some panache, as Thorp, on the powerplay, Johnston, with a shorthanded effort, and Wilson, with only 30 seconds remaining, took the score into double figures.

Pirates will be happy to have seen off a spirited Kilmarnock side while still minus several key players, and make the trip east to take on Dundee Stars next Saturday.

Scorers:  Campbell (2+3), Bain & Guy (2+0), Wilson & Johnston (1+2), Riddell & Thorp                (both 1+1), Crute & Spiers (both 0+1)

Penalties: Johnston (8), Bain (4), Crute, Spiers, Guy, McLaughlin & Wilson (all 2)