Preview by Peter Ryan / Photos by James Assinder
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Cardiff FireCardiff Fire return to league action this Saturday. The side will travel to Romford to face the Romford Buccaneers. It should be an intriguing contest, with both sides looking to improve on the previous year. They finished as the bottom two teams in last yearโs NIHL 1 South. However, over the off-season, rosters have changed, and both teams should feel a real sense of optimism. The long wait is finally over, and this has all the makings for an exciting clash.
Last time out for the Fire
Last Sunday the Fire welcomed the Swindon Wildcats 2 to the Welsh capital. The home side delivered an impressive display to secure a 3-0 win. Goals from Alfie Stone, Dylan Webb, and Owen Smethan secured a fantastic victory to the delight of the Vindico Arena crowd. The result has built a solid foundation, and there is no doubt the team will build on it as they go into league action. Cardiff were clinical in attack, and when the powerplay was available, their execution was immense, with all three goals coming from penalties. It is one thing to score goals, but keeping a strong defensive front is crucial in any sport; with a clean sheet, the Fire showed how defensively sound they can be. As previously stated, it was a tremendous contest to kick off the new season, and players really stepped up.
Stats
There were elements to Cardiffโs game that really stood out. The side's ability to create played a massive role in the weekend's victory. Tallying six assists shows how lethal they can be when it comes to providing opportunities to score goals. Rhys Smetham was instrumental in this part of the game; his vision to put the puck where it's needed earned him three assists. He will be crucial in providing that creative spark for Saturday's contest against the Buccaneers. The defence was brilliant on Sunday, and goaltender Ben Scanlan was an immovable object in goal, recording 39 saves with a 100% success rate. He truly had an outstanding game and is definitely one to watch as the season progresses. Cardiff have the talent in the ranks to make an impact this season, but an interesting challenge lies ahead in the Buccaneers.
Opposition
Romford head into the season in a similar position to the Fire, as they look to bounce back. Last season, they finished one position higher than Cardiff, who were in eighth. The Buccaneers recorded eight wins and 20 losses whilst scoring 61 goals but conceded 145. This side provides a great test for the Fire as both teams are in a similar position heading into the new year.
There is always a buzz when the new season is upon us, and what a way to kick off a fresh campaign with a compelling matchup.
Join us for our opening home game of the new season against Solent Devils on Sunday 27th September at 6:45pm. Click HERE to book your tickets online and beat the queues on the door.
