Jets tame Lions
The Jets played their opening game of the season away to Ayr Lions on Saturday 31st Oct. The Halloween fixture was a late start to the season after the Zamboni broke down ahead of their originally scheduled opener two weeks ago.
The Jets opened the scoring in the first minute with a tally from forward George Cathcart. The lead was short lived however when the Lions bit back with three unanswered goals to take control. Ayr wouldn't score again until Stevie Fawcett was set-up on the power-play by Mark Andrews & John Kidd to gain some ground. Jets fired the equaliser past the Lions netminder a mere ten seconds later on what would be back-to-back goals from Michael Hose who scored the Jets fourth a minute later. The Lions clawed back an equaliser in the final minute of the period to tie the game going into the break.
The second period was a little slower to get started with the Jets opening the scoring at 23.49 with a goal from centre Jim McLauchlan & the assist from Kevin Simpson. Four minutes later a Lions power-play was able to capitalise and even up the score once more before getting a go-ahead goal forty-one seconds later to put the Jets at a one goal deficit. Simpson was able to tie up the game on behalf of the Jets a few moments later on the pass from Kidd before the Lions took the lead again towards the end of the period which would ultimately be their final charge as the Jets banged home five goals (Cathcart 2, Simpson 1, Hose 1 & Andrew Watt 1) in quick succession in the remaining three minutes of the period to set the score at 11-7.
The closing period saw the Lions squeeze one more past the Jets netminders before Gary Morris & Hose set-up Watt who clinched the conclusive goal at 49.41 leaving the final score at Ayr Jets 12, Ayr Lions 8.
MOM: Andy Watt
