Cardiff Devils 4 - 1 Fife Flyers

Faceoff: 19:30 - 26/12/11

Cardiff Devils won their 4^th league game in a row with a battling performance over a hard-working Fife Flyers. With Adam Harding and Luke Piggott stepping up from the ENL Devils to form a 4^th line with Sam Smith, the Devils strength in depth told in the final period.

Cardiff got off to the perfect start after just 80 seconds, Stuart MacRae’s cross-ice pass being fired into the net at the far post by Max Birbraer despite being off balance.

Fife refused to be pushovers though and created several good chances of their own. When Jeff Pierce was sent to the bin for tripping after seven minutes, Fife controlled the puck impressively on the powerplay until Mike Hamilton’s powerful slapshot flew past Stevie Lyle for the equaliser.

Both sides came close to adding to the score several times but it remained 1-1 until the second period break. Within 30 seconds of the start of the third period though the Devils had retaken then lead. Scott Matzka collected a pass from Phil Hill as he crossed the blueline before firing in an accurate shot that went in off the far post.

The goal raised the confidence of the Cardiff players and within two minutes they had got that vital third goal. Once again it was Matzka who scored it and once again it was thanks to a shot of pinpoint accuracy into the top corner of the net.

Having competed so well for forty minutes, Fife were starting to look tired. A third Cardiff goal in six minutes sealed the win when on a delayed powerplay, Jeff Pierce picked out Kenton Smith alone in goal and he took one touch before sliding it under the Fife netminder for the 4-1 scoreline.