A last gasp goal in the NIHL cup semi-final

A thrilling game between two top teams who were both full strength on the night gives us a nail biting second leg where the winner will face the Romford Raiders. 

Game Report: 

Both teams set up very strong, really protecting their net-minders and not letting any clear cut chances on goal. And when there were any half chances, Gospel and Norton comfortably made the saves. Despite it being a goalless first period, there were many shots with 18 to Sheffield and 14 to Leeds but none of them too threatening for both sides.

The second period started off similar with both teams really trying not to give up that first goal. It did get quite scrappy between the two sides with the puck just falling off players sticks at the last seconds. But with just over two minutes to go in the second period, the deadlock finally got broken after Kieran Brown latched onto the loose puck and fired it top corner past Norton.

This then opened the game up a bit more and the Knights got a couple powerplay opportunities. And on the third time of asking, they doubled their lead on the PP with Haywood finding space at the back post and sneaking the loose puck past Norton at 50:34. However the Steeldogs hit straight back with Ulrick finding space and playing a lovely pass to Halfors who buried it past Gospel just 35 seconds after the Knights second goal. Then came the last gasp goal where the puck bounced out to Phillips with 0.4 seconds left and he snapped it past Gospel to make it all to play for in the second leg.

Final score: Leeds Knights 2-2 Sheffield Steeldogs

The second leg will take place at Ice Sheffield on New Years Eve at 1pm