Sheffield Steelers 2-4 Newcastle Vipers

Sheffield missing Mike Peron and Stevie Duncombe, Newcastle mising Karl Culley.

2903 saw Newcastle sew this one up in the first period as Sheffield couldn't handle their physical strength. Matus Petricko and Cory Morgan scored short-handed breakaways (10.10) and (42.51), with Andre Payette (pp17.39) and Michael Tasker (24.38) out-muscling their markers to net in between. Martin Masa (33.28) and Kent Simpson (43.25) combined for two powerplay goals, Vipers Trevor Koenig beaten by deflections both times.

Newcastle started as they meant to continue, pinning Sheffield in their own end for opening few minutes. Player-coach Rob Wilson fired in and with the puck loose goalie Jody Lehman somehow trapped it under his body with David Longstaff ready to lift it home. Twice Joanthon Weaver forced stops before Kent Simpson tested Trevor Koenig. After 6 minutes Simpson put Ron Shudra clean through, but the veteran blasted wide. Then Rod Sarich forced his way down the right boards and Warren Tait's cross was met sweetly by Paul Sample, only for Koenig to pad away the shot. Matt Beveridge took an interference penalty to stop Sample reaching the rebound. On the powerplay Koenig made comfortable stops from Maxwell and Shudra (twice). Jan Krajicek's roughing penalty started as soon as Beveridge returned but that didn't stop Vipers taking the lead. A long pass from Cory Morgan found Matus Petricko beyond the home defence and Petricko netted over Lehman's right shoulder.

Sarich and Maxwell produced long-range shots but Martin Masa took a holding penalty and Vipers duly stretched their lead. The puck was worked from the left post around the zone and Wilson's quick pass to Andre Payette on the right wing was dispatched first time (17:39) with marker Jonas Lennartsson unable to prevent the shot.

Paul Sample forced two saves early in the second period as Sheffield took the game to their visitors, but Vipers netted at their first attempt. Morgan got away down the left and his pass inside was forced home by Tasker as youngster Simon Butterworth tried to push the much bigger forward off the puck.

Simpson and Maxwell kept Koenig busy at the other end. Vipers managed just one shot on Shudra's holding penalty and as Shudra returned Simpson broke away up the left 2-on-1, ignoring the pass inside but Koenig gloved the shot.

When Petricko took a hooking penalty Sheffield found the net at last, Martin Masa's right point shot deflected in at the near post. Sheffield kept up the pressure with Rod Sarich twice testing Koenig. With Shaun Johnson off for hooking, Simpson forced a smart pad save to a backhanded shot from low on the right.

Sheffield began the final session with all the pressure without registering a shot. Jeremy Cornish's needless roughing penalty brough a powerplay goal for Sheffield, but unfortunately for them Vipers had already scored another short-handed marker themselves. A quick break up the middle left Morgan going in alone to net high over Lehman's right shoulder, before Masa's right wing shot appeared to take a deflection as it beat Koenig.

Lots of huff and puff from the home side until the final whistle but without ever looking like adding to their total.