March 21st 1999, Women's League Division One - South
On a three game unbeaten streak, and knowing they needed another win to enhance their chances of qualifying for the end of season playoffs, the Cobras were fired up going into this clash with Streatham Storm.
The first period saw most of the pressure on the Cobras net, and it was nearing ten minutes before the Cobras actually put a shot on target - but having sustained a lot of pressure early on, they were able to open the scoring when Emma Stott put the puck in the net after a scramble caused by Katy Allen.
That was how the opening period ended, but the Streatham team talk worked wonders, as the Storm came out firing, and this time the shots were on the net. They scored with their first two of the period, both from Zuzanna Dobrovolna, and this rocked the Cobras back on their heels. Soon after this Chelmsford took, but managed to kill a minor penalty, and soon after Emma Stott returned to the ice, Rachel Kearn was in position to skate the full length of the ice, and bounce the puck of the prone Storm goalie into the net to tie the game.
The next action was all around the penalty box, with Cobras going two players down, and Streatham capitalising on this advantage almost immediately as Zuzanna Dobrovolna grabbed her hat trick goal. With Jen Stedman remaining in the penalty box, Streatham kept up the pressure, and scored again just before the penalty was complete, this time through Sue Parsons, who grabbed her second, and Streatham's fifth with a little under three minutes left to play in the period.
Going into the final period, Cobras' changed their goalie, with Carly Davis coming in to replace Dani DeVito - who had been shelled with 19 shots in the second period alone. This seemed to concentrate the Cobras minds, and whilst still attacking, they seemed to be taking more care in defence.
Knowing they had to win, Chelmsford came out straight on the offence, and had pulled the deficit back to two, as Emma Stott scored her second, assisted this time by Katy Allen and Rachel Kearn. This seemed to spur both teams on, and the play flowed from end to end, with no real drama, except for a couple of offsetting penalties, until Streatham's Sue Parsons grabbed her hat trick goal, and finally Zuzanna Dobrovolna notched her fourth, short-handed with a little under five minutes to play to seal the victory.
Streatham's played of the game award was shared by goalie Kay Dibling, and Sue Parsons, whilst the Chelmsford award went to Marianne Wright.
Next Cobras game is Saturday 27th March, at Romford, against Romford Nighthawks, the girls would really appreciate all the support they can get.
Scoring:
Streatham: Zuzanna Dobrovolna 4+0(0), Sue Parsons 3+0(2), Elli Gomm 0+2(0), Crystal Fenwick 0+2(0), Katarina Paulova 0+2(0), Sue Nicholson 0+1(0), Ruth Poppe 0+0(2)
Chelmsford: Emma Stott 2+0(4), Rachel Kearn 1+1(0), Katy Allen 0+1(0), Jen Stedman 0+0(2), Marianne Wright 0+0(2)