Struggling Steelers are bitten by Vipers

Newcastle Vipers 5Steelers 4(after penalty shots, Sun)Basingstoke Bison 6Steelers 3(Saturday)

SHEFFIELD STEELERS' league title aspirations looked to be losing their validity after tossing away a 4-1 lead to somehow lose their Elite League encounter at Rob Wilson's Newcastle Vipers.

Dave Matsos's side lost on penalty shots after Randy Dagenais and skipper Jonathan Phillips fluffed their penalties in the shoot-out and ex-Steeler David Longstaff and Jeff Hutchins rounded Jody Lehman to secure their second win of the weekend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It rounded off a miserable weekend for Lehman, who conceded an astonishing 11 times.

Yet it had all started so well for Steelers who - backed by a strong travelling band of fans - saw Phillips pick out Warren Tait on 5:53 to open the scoring and rock Newcastle.

Six minutes later and Steelers doubled their lead when they took advantage of a powerplay and Rob Sarich found Ashey Tait who left Vipers netminder Ryan MacDonald with no chance to make it two.

And on 10:10 it looked like it was game over when captain Phillips made it 3-0 when he swept home after good work from Steve Munn.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But, on a night of twists and turns, Vipers found a way back into the game. Canadian ace Derek Campbell latched on to a pass from blueliner Pasha Gomenyuk to slot past Lehman and reduce arrears.

In the second period though Sheffield regained control as Mark Thomas combined with Doug Sheppard who restored the three-goal advantage.

Vipers had lost 7-1 to Coventry Blaze a week earlier and it looked like there was going to be a repeat showing for Sheffield but with Wilson going nuts in the dug-out he demanded a response from his troops and got one.

First they took advantage of another powerplay when Colin Shields finished off a move that had started with a Longstaff play out wide to Ben Storey on 22:21.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Five minutes later the visitors' lead was down to one when Campbell fired home from Sergi Rublinksy before the second period was finished to set up a tense third.

There were chances galore for both sides in the final frame but it was Shields who proved to be the crucial breakthrough after racing through unassisted on 42:48 to level it all up.

Five minutes of sudden death failed to find a winner and so to penalty shots.

Yet once Dagenais had fired wide and Longstaff netted, as usual the game seemed beyond Steelers as Phillips followed up and scuffed his shot to allow Hutchins to wrap it up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Afterwards Wilson said: "I think I was the only guy in the building who thought we could do it at 4-1 still and so it proved.

"Sheffield are a good side and they will be hurting after that.

"But I fully expect them to be waiting for us next time out.

"For now though I am delighted with my side's character."

Steelers

slumped to their worst performance of the season, so far, at Basingstoke, 24 hours earlier.

What do you think? Post your comments below.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They were 6-1 down with seven minutes to go, and two late consolation goals within 14 seconds failed to mask a totally inadequate showing.

Bison steamrollered Sheffield in the first period scoring four unanswered goals through Derek Campbell (two) Greg Owen and Peter Campbell.

Joe Talbot reversed the trend on the powerplay but Steve Thornton and Derek Campbell made it 6-1, forcing the departure of Lehman from goal.

Lehman was furious - presumably with his leaky defence as much as himself - and hammered his stick into the rink boards before disappearing.

David Lawrence turned away 17 shots, while Talbot and Shepperd goals brought some limited respectability to the scoreline.