22nd January 2000 Chelmsford Cobras 2 Cardiff Comets 11
Having achieved back to back shut outs last weekend and undefeated in the league since 1998, visitors Cardiff came into Riverside full of confidence.
Inside the first minute, Cobras' Emma Stott was called for a minor penalty, the Cobras' first in 150 minutes of playing time. It took less than 30 seconds for the Comets to capitalise through captain Lorraine McMullen. Less than 90 seconds later, they led 2-0 as Elaine Langford was left unmarked in the slot.
This was a sign for the Cobras to tighten up the game, and they were able to restrict the number of quality scoring chances that Cardiff could create.
With about three minutes to play in the period Comets managed another two goal burst, through Lorraine McMullen and Helen Wilson, to lead 4-0 having outshot Chelmsford 18-2.
The second session saw both teams neutralising each other's attacks until about five minutes had passed, when Cardiff had another goal burst, this time three goals in a minute, Elaine Langford, and two from Helen Wilson to complete her hat-trick.
Cardiff notched their eighth, Wilson's fourth, and then with three and a half minutes left, Heather Wright and Jen Stedman combined to set-up Emma Stott for the first goal conceded by Cardiff in almost 150 minutes.
Into the third and final period, the Helen Wilson show continued, as she grabbed another two goals. Then, Cobras player of the game, Jen Stedman, picked up the puck from the face-off, skated past the strangely static Cardiff defence and lifted the puck into the roof of the Comets net. For the first time this season Cardiff had conceded more than a single goal in a game.
The game actions were completed by Helen Wilson scoring her seventh goal with four minutes left, to complete the scoring at 11-2, with the final shots being 46-8. Comets player of the game was Kelly Shellard.
The next Cobras game is 5th February 2000, when they entertain Milton Keynes Falcons - a first year team, who have reportedly put in some good performances, but have struggled to convert this form into league points, with their only points coming from an away draw with Oxford University.
Chelmsford: Jen Stedman 1+1(0), Emma Stott 1+0(2), Heather Wright 0+1(0).
Cardiff: Helen Wilson 7+0(0), Lorraine McMullen 2+4(0), Elaine Langford 2+2(2), Jessica Matthews 0+1(0), Kelly Shellard 0+1(2), Becci Hargreaves 0+0(2)