Steeldogs pulled back a 2 goal deficit in the last 10 minutes of their semi final 1st leg tie at Yorkshire rivals Leeds Knights, to leave it all to play for at Ice Sheffield on New Years Eve.
The dogs had Ben Norton making his 2nd consecutive start in goal since returning to the line up.
The game started at a frantic pace , with the Steeldogs dominating the early passages of play with leeds looking dangerous on the break.
Both netminders and the defences held firm to see the period out without any score.
Gospel being the busier of the netties
The 2nd period saw Leeds gain the upper hand and they had the away side working relentlessly to prevent any score.
Despite lots of chances going begging it looked as the dogs were going to go into the 2nd break at 0-0 until Brown fired home with 3 minutes left, after the Dogs D had failed to clear the zone.
The Steeldogs held firm to see the buzzer out without further scoring.
The 3rd period started in much the same vein, as the home team began to show their calibre and looked to put the tie beyond Steeldogs reach.
The Steeldogs however, weren’ t here just to make up the numbers and kept Gospel on his toes at the other end.
The lesser Haywood got Leeds’ 2nd goal , slotting home unmarked at the back post with Ulrick in the box for hooking.
The tie had swung, but the Steeldogs responded quickly with a Hallfors marker just 35 seconds later.
Game on… both sides looked capable of scoring now and went toe to toe…Leeds ran into penalty trouble with Mcmullin sittin 2 for tripping and the dogs had a chance to tie the game but Leeds defence, ably assisted by the castle wall that is Gospel, saw the pk out.
Just as it looked as though the home team would be visiting Sheffield with a 1 goal lead, Mcmullin took another seat on the naughty step, this time for holding the stick as IBN tried to get on the end of a great move.
6.6 seconds left on the clock and Morgs called a timeout.
Surely not enough time for a goal?
Tremblay and the lesser H battled like gladiators to win the all important face off , with the puck finding its way to IBN, who fed the old timer Jonathan Phillips, who was home alone in front of goal and he duly fired the puck past a helpless Gospel.
The time on the clock showing 59.59 ( anyone remember Chris Sysky??)
To top off a remarkable end to the game Phillips also took the Steeldogs Man of the Match award, one can only presume, to the utter dismay of one particular leeds fan 😉👌, who had dared to say Jonno wasnt the player he used to be.!!!. Bradon was leeds M.O.M.
A fantastic game of hockey, with 2 teams giving everything they had, lots of noise from the stands and a decent away following.
Bring on New Years Eve already.