Sheffield Steelers' astonishing fightback to win at Glasgow Clan

Steelers came back from the dead at Glasgow - they were 4-0 down at the half way point but clawed back and won 5-4 in overtime.
Ben O'Connor at Glasgow. Picture: Al Goold (www.algooldphoto.com)Ben O'Connor at Glasgow. Picture: Al Goold (www.algooldphoto.com)
Ben O'Connor at Glasgow. Picture: Al Goold (www.algooldphoto.com)

The performance showed everything that is good and bad about the team.

They were porous defensively - but then had the character to blast their way back, d-man Mark Matheson scoring at 62nd minute winner that puts Sheffield just under the top four.

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Steelers had arrived in Glasgow with the bonus that two important opponents suspended from the line-up: ex Steeler Zack Fitzgerald and top-scorer Brendan Connolly after a rumpus against Milton Keynes Lightníng.

Glasgow posed early problems, with Matt Climie facing some strong shooting, and they took the lead at 9;07 through Matt Beca. That triggered a series of assaults from the visitors, Robert Dowd and Ben O'Connor pressuring the home goal. But Beca is a seasoned points-sniper and he rattled up his second of the evening at 17;24.

Goalie Matt Climie broke a skate as he tried to save Matt Stanisz's breakaway at 21;58 and conceded a third, to put Clan in a seemingly comfortable position. Then Gerard Hanson made it 4-0 at 25;57.

But then Ben O'Connor reversed the tide with a slapshot, self-belief returned and Josh Pitt maneuvered himself into space before blasting a cracking goal to half the deficit.

Matt Climie seeks inspiration in the first period of the Glasgow Clan v Sheffield Steelers at Braehead Aren. Picture: Al Goold (www.algooldphoto.com)Matt Climie seeks inspiration in the first period of the Glasgow Clan v Sheffield Steelers at Braehead Aren. Picture: Al Goold (www.algooldphoto.com)
Matt Climie seeks inspiration in the first period of the Glasgow Clan v Sheffield Steelers at Braehead Aren. Picture: Al Goold (www.algooldphoto.com)
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Clan needed to steady the ship: but instead, they failed to close down Stefan Della Rovere who brought Steelers a goal shy at 3-4.

 Sheffield bombarded Clan with Dowd and Jonathan Phillips going close.

Eventually, O'Connor again rattled in from distance - 4-4 with 51 seconds remaining. The importance of his return to the team had been underlined once again.

Pitt hit the bar in overtime before Matheson won it.

A simply astonishing turnaround had been made, ahead of Saturday's trip to Fife Flyers.Â