January 30th 1999, Women's League Division One - South
There is always a lot of local pride at stake, as well league points, in clashes between teams from Chelmsford and Romford, and this game was to be no exception. Cobras started the brightest, with play being mostly in the Nighthawks zone in the early minutes, but having weathered that storm, Romford had some good spells of pressure themselves.
Both goalies were on top form, and even when Chelmsford had a powerplay there was no sign of a goal. The closest either team came was when Romford got a powerplay of their own at the end of the period, and only a full length diving save from player of the game Dani DeVito prevented a Romford goal.
Right at the end of the same powerplay Romford had another good chance, with the shot coming through a screen and forcing another good save from Dani DeVito. About five minutes into the period Katy Allen broke in on Jane Austin in the Romford goal, only for both the initial shot, and the rebound attempt to be knocked away.
Cobras closest attempt on goal came about five minutes later, when Katy Allen hit the post. This was the end of the scoring attempts for the period, as Chelmsford hit penalty trouble, and despite being short-handed for almost four minutes the Cobras held on to keep the scores tied going into the third period.
Into the third period, and both teams were looking a little nervous, as it seemed likely that a deciding goal, if there was one, would be a mistake, and neither team wanted to make that error. After 35 minutes, a scramble in front of the net after the puck was fumbled, and then recovered by Jane Austin, came to nothing.
With about five minutes left, Zoe Gilbert broke in on the Cobras net alone, but was denied again by Dani DeVito, and the final scoring chance came with 45 seconds left, when former Cobra, Joanne Abbs blasted the puck high and wide.
Debbie Jeffers won the player of the game award for Romford, whilst Dani DeVito won the Cobras' award for her 22 saves, whilst in the Romford net Jane Austin deserves a mention for her 31 saves.
Next Cobras game is Saturday 27th February, at Riverside, against Invicta Dynamics, the game starts at 5:15pm.
Scoring:
Chelmsford: Marianne Wright 0+0(2), Emma Stott 0+0(4), Jen Stedman 0+0(6)
Romford: Cheryl Arnold 0+0(2), Zoe Gilbert 0+0(2), Keeley Goddard 0+0(2)