The Steeldogs were still missing Phillips and Shudra and had Norton starting in goal for the short trip to West Yorkshire to face a Leeds team who had beat them 6-0 three days earlier.
Even the fans who made the journey were merely dreaming of a goal. Anything more would be miraculous.
So low was their confidence, one fan who certainly wasn’t chivalrous,and who will remain unnamed, thought it acceptable to sit in the car while his wife queued up in the cold and rain, only to join her when she was at the door!!.
Kieran Brown firing tamely home after less than 2 minutes into the game wouldnt have helped matters.
However, this seemed to galvanise the away team and they finally found a way past Gospel with an Ivan Bjorkly Nordstrom marker at 4.08, assisted Ulrick and Hallfors.
The rest of the period was end to end , a typical Yorkshire derby, with the Dogs showing the unusually quiet home crowd, they werent there to just lay down and have their bellies tickled
That man Brown broke the deadlock shortly before the end of the period.
Again, the away team went toe to toe with Leeds during the 2nd period and hopes of more attacking pressure were heightened as they were awarded a powerplay, with Gospel again being kept busy..
However, ex-Steeldog Brown, outmuscled the defence to break away and score a short-handed hat-trick marker half way through the dogs pp at 34.07.
Again, the dogs were giving a good account of themselves with that man Gospel preventing the Dogs getting level.
The buzzer sounded amidst handbags from the players, which was to set up a tense 3rd period.
Despite a 3-1 lead, Leeds were by no means uncatchable and the Steeldogs hopes of an upset were raised at 42.06 when IBN ( who was easily pushing hat trick hero for the mvp ) beautifully found Kirk skating into the zone, with no Leeds player near him, and the captain buried the puck past a bemused Gospel.
Ulrich also credited with an assist.
Game on !
The crowd were growing more and more apprehensive but a momentary lapse by the D , left another ex dog, Buesa, on his own at the back post, to tip in what would end up as the gwg.
Shortly after, a huge scuffle erupted behind Nortons goal, with the home teams 2+2 penalty, bizarrely evened up with an interference call on Ripley, earning him a seat beside Ollie Turner ( roughing ).
The period ended without further incident, but the away fans could be immensely proud of their teams response to tuesdays poor performance.
To outshoot a star studded line up 26-34, in their ‘castle’ should be the catalyst to have a good run into the play off group games..
But which Steeldogs team will turn up on Sun day, as an out of form Solway Sharks visit Ice Sheffield ?.
Captain Brown deservedly took the home team M.O.M , with Brady Doxey putting in a fine performance taking the Steeldogs honours.
Special mention has to go to IBN who quite possibly, put in the best performance by a Steeldog all season! . A performance worthy of winning Player of the Month on this game alone.
Rumour has it, the pampered Steeldogs fan, had his wife warming the car up and waiting at the doors to make his journey home more comfortable ! 😜.
See you all Sunday