Report by Peter Ryan / Photo by Emily Evans
Join us for our next home game against Solent Devils on Sunday 18th October at 6:45pm. Click HERE to book your tickets online and beat the queues on the door.
4 – 9 
Cardiff FireCardiff Fire at Swindon Wildcats 2
Sunday 11th October | Link Centre
The Cardiff Fire bounced back in a big way this weekend. They backed up their pre-season win with a massive victory over the Swindon Wildcats 2. A 9-4 result shows how good the Welsh side can be. Fierce in attack, Cardiff were clinical, aggressive, and played beautiful hockey. Not only was it a fantastic performance on the ice, but the team’s heart and spirit were on full display after a disappointing weekend two weeks prior. The immense travelling Fire Family could be heard, and they were rewarded. A perfect result that builds a phenomenal foundation for the rest of the season.
A Great Matchup
The Fire were on the hunt for redemption following their first defeats of the season. Cardiff were firing on all cylinders from the jump. Four goals in the opening 20 from Owen Smetham, Rhys Smetham, Will Thurlbert, and Alfie Stone. The Wildcats kept it tight through the opening period, scoring three goals, including Swindon's opening goal, which set up a back-and-forth first period. It turned into an intriguing contest.
Cardiff separated themselves in the second period, scoring three unanswered goals. Rhys Smetham secured his second of the match; captain Craig Thurston also bagged himself a brace. It was a strong second period. The third period saw the Fire close out the contest with an Owen Smetham goal, assisted by the Fire’s new signing, Bobby Ragan. A final goal from Joe Malfatti sealed an important win for the Fire. There were an abundance of positives to take from the contest, including goaltender Morgan Parsons who had a sensational showing in his first start of the season.
The Stats
The numbers always tell a fascinating story. Throughout the opening games, what set the Fire apart was their creativity. It’s safe to say that spark is back as the team tallied 16 assists over the duration of the contest. Owen Smetham was causing real problems for the opposition, credited with three assists. Furthermore, Cardiff challenged the net. Shots on goal were in Fire's favour 48 to 41. Another important factor in the victory was the Fire’s discipline. Cardiff had 18 penalty minutes compared to the Wildcats 31. Creative and disciplined, traits that could mean this team is capable of special things, and when they are producing scorelines like this, it's hard to bet against them.
Next Up
Next week the Fire will come home. Cardiff will welcome the Solent Devils to the Welsh capital, as they look for revenge after a 5-2 defeat earlier in the season. The English club are coming off a 5-1 loss to Streatham, meaning they will look to get back to winning ways. It has all the makings for an entertaining clash.
This coming Sunday, the Fire will be in full voice as they hunt for their first home victory in the league. The home crowd support will be steadfast as always. Cardiff are truly building momentum.
Goal Summary
| Time | Goal | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 5:30 | 72 Owen Smetham | 9 Will Thurlbert, 12 Rhys Smetham |
| 7:41 | 12 Rhys Smetham | 72 Owen Smetham |
| 14:48 | 9 Will Thurlbert | 72 Owen Smetham, 12 Rhys Smetham |
| 17:05 | 10 Alfie Stone (SHG) | 13 Dylan Webb, 95 Craig Thurston |
| 24:56 | 12 Rhys Smetham | 23 Yaqub Barnwell, 37 Ben Davies |
| 26:45 | 95 Craig Thurston | 97 Elis Sheppard |
| 30:27 | 95 Craig Thurston | 10 Alfie Stone, 14 Joe Malfatti |
| 45:23 | 72 Owen Smetham (PP) | 50 Bobby Ragan, 13 Dylan Webb |
| 47:22 | 14 Joe Malfatti | 10 Alfie Stone, 95 Craig Thurston |
Click HERE to view the team stats.
