Cardiff Fire had a Remembrance weekend to remember with a home loss to top team Slough Jets on Saturday followed by an away win against MK Thunder on Sunday. Check out the match reports, interview with Coach Shep and photo gallery below.
Join us for our next home game against Romford Buccaneers on Saturday 23rd November at 7pm. Tickets are available on the door or click HERE to book online.
2 – 7 
Slough JetsCardiff Fire vs Slough Jets
Match report by Georgia Thomas
Fire knew going into Remembrance weekend it was going to be a tough battle, facing Slough Jets at home on Saturday and Milton Keynes Thunder away on Sunday.
Saturday began with Fire trailing in the first period after an even-strength Jets goal. However, with a dramatic end to the period, the first Fire goal of the night, a power play goal scored by forward #98 William Thurlbert assisted by Player Coach #97 Elis Sheppard and #21 Kris Kasjanovs. Goal scored on the buzzer, timed at exactly 20:00.
With a level score of 1-1, the second period showed promise with a penalty shot taken and scored by #88 Danny Williams timed at 21:04. By the end of the second the Jets had equalled the scoreboard again with a power play goal, leaving it at 2-2.
The third period saw the Jets come out re-energised and ready; in the end the Jets were able to convert the opportunities of penalties both for and against them into goals. Scoring five in total during this period to win the game 7-2 and they remain second in the league.
It must be said, the score of the first game does not reflect the work ethic and the vast improvement this team has made since they first played the Jets at the beginning of the season.
Click HERE to view the team stats.
| Time | Goal | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 20:00 | 98 William Thurlbert (PP) | 97 Elis Sheppard, 21 Kris Kasjanovs |
| 21:04 | 88 Danny Williams (PS) | Unassisted |
2 – 5 Cardiff FireCardiff Fire at Milton Keynes Thunder
Match report by Natasha Jenkins
Following the loss to Slough Jets on Saturday, Fire went into Sunday hungry for a win. Neither Milton Keynes nor Fire have had the start to their respective seasons as they would have hoped, so both teams had a lot to prove. Cardiff Fire and Milton Keynes were sitting in 9th and 10th on the league table respectively.
Just over five minutes in, with a Fire power Play, #34 Bailey Hind-Pitcher scored the first goal of the evening, assisted by #98 William Thurlbert timed at 5:17. Quickly following suit, #33 Aaron Moody scored the second Fire goal of the evening, assisted by Captain, #43 Lewis Stevens timed at 8:33. A strong start for Fire leading 2-0 by the end of the first period but Thunder still showing composure.
The second period opened with a Thunder goal, the play was continuous but with Fire feeling a little pressure this brought a haphazard structure to their offence and a slow defence. With less than 2 minutes left on the clock of the second period, #27 Carter Lloyd took advantage of a slow pass from Thunder and scored an unassisted goal regaining the 2-point lead against Thunder.
Fire returned to the final period with a strong presence, Thunder called an early time out at 42:15. This proved quickly successful for them as they scored a goal timed at 48:45. In a quick turn-around of less than 4 minutes, #27 Carter Lloyd scored his second goal of the game, this time assisted by #88 Danny Williams and #98 William Thurlbert. Thunder took the strategical decision to pull their goalie, Fire used this opportunity and with the assistance of Head Coach #97 Ellis Sheppard, #40 James Matthews scored the fifth and final goal of the evening for Fire in an empty net which could be likened to a slow-motion action movie moment timed at 59:39. Fire won 5-2 against Milton Keynes’ Thunder. Sundays game much more successful than Saturdays. Clear lessons learnt from the previous evening with Fire presenting a much stronger and cohesive team play.
Player of the Game for Saturday with an assist was #21 Kris Kasjanovs and Sundays was awarded #98 William Thurlbert.
With two wins now behind them, hopefully the fire is now lit amongst the team and the trajectory is only up from here.
Thank you to Slough Jets and Milton Keynes Thunder, to both players and fans for all the support you showed this weekend for your teams.
We will play Thunder again when they travel to us for our Christmas Jumper Game Sunday December 15th, 2024, our only home game in December. However, we will not see Slough until the New Year when we travel away to them in January.
Click HERE to view the team stats.
| Time | Goal | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 5:17 | 34 Bailey Hind-Pitcher (PP) | 98 William Thurlbert |
| 8:33 | 33 Aaron Moody | 43 Lewis Stevens |
| 38:15 | 27 Carter Lloyd | Unassisted |
| 52:15 | 27 Carter Lloyd | 88 Danny Williams, 98 William Thurlbert |
| 59:39 | 40 James Matthews (ENG) | 97 Elis Sheppard |
Catch-Up with Coach Shep
Chris O'Brien from Radio Cardiff show 'Standing Room Only' caught-up with Head Coach Elis Sheppard following the weekend's results. Catch Chris' sports and music show on 98.7FM and DAB on Thursdays at 9pm.
Photo Gallery
Photos by James Assinder
