On Saturday the Spartans made the hour long trip to Grimsby, home of the smallest rink in the ENL. Grimsby is always a difficult place for visiting teams to come and play, such a small rink means less time on the puck, more shots and plenty of contact.

The first period started well with an early long range goal from Si Manning. Sheffield followed up with another goal soon after, before taking a series of penalties. Grimsby took full advantage, with two separate powerplay goals to level the score. The Spartans managed to grab another goal to take the lead to end the period 3-2.

The first line set the tone at the start of the second period with a 2 goal shift, a number of goals then followed from all 4 lines to make a 9-1 period, 12-3 overall.

With an important game the following day, and a comfortable lead, the first line was rested for the final period. Sheffield scored another 4 goals to complete the game.

Man of the match: Chris Turner

Final Score: Sheffield 16 - Grimsby 3


The Spartans then Traveled to Flintshire on Sunday to face an ever improving Freeze side. After a close game at two weeks earlier, the Spartans knew this would be a tough fixture.

The game started out with both teams taking early penalties, and it wasn’t until around the 10 minute mark when the deadlock was broken with Will Barron finding space to slot home the 1st goal. Flintshire then got one back to tie the game 1-1, Only for Ryan Handisides to get a second for the Spartans minutes later to regain the lead before the break.

The second period was just as close as the first, both teams pushing for another goal, making hits and taking penalties. Despite end to end hockey, neither team could find the net and the score remained 2-1 to the Spartans.

In the third, the Spartans had a number of penalty decisions go against them, Ryan Handisides was given a 5+game and left the ice. With the Freeze on the powerplay a lot of pressure was put on the Sheffield net, a shot from point took a deflection from a Spartan defender before finding the net to tie the game 2-2. The Spartans re-grouped and started mounting pressure to try and win the game. Shaun Ashton took a mid ice hit to his knee, which saw him leave the game injured and the offending Freeze player left the ice with a 5+game. Sheffield now had the last 2 minutes of the game on the powerplay, time was soon running out but a cannon of a shot from Andrew Turner on point found Matt Haywoods stick, who tipped in the game winner with 1.0 seconds remaining on the clock.

Man of the match: Matt Haywood

Final Score: Sheffield 3 - Flintshire 2

This was a great weekend for the Spartans, the first win in the cup campaign and another win in the league which takes Sheffield to third place. The Spartans now face the Lancashire Raptors at iceSheffield this Sunday (Sun 28-Oct, 19.30pm face off).

See you there!