The Flyers hosted the Clan for the second of their two home Challenge Cup clashes with the Glasgow Clan this season with both teams looking to break four game losing streaks. The Flyers remained without Martin Látal with James Spence and Daniel Krenželok also scratched but they welcomed back Fynn Page for his first appearance of the season. The Clan who are still without new signing Matt Stief were also without Reece Kelly and Felix Pare.

The Flyers made the worst possible start as the Clan broke down the right wing from the face off and the puck was flashed across goal where Cole Ully got his stick on the rubber to deflect it into the net after a mere 8 seconds. The Clan looked dominant at this point and for the next three minutes they created a number of chances as they forechecked the Flyers hard in their own zone and Shane Owen had to look sharp to prevent any further damage. The visitors went on the games first power play in the 4^th minute when Tyler Heidt was called for interference. Owen made a huge save to deny Darien Kielb’s fierce drive. The sides were soon at even strength as Michael Pelech was binned for a slash. Owen fought off a shot  as Flyers returned to full strength but with only 30 seconds of power play time they didn’t manage to get anything set up. Maxim Musorov from distance gave Landon Bow his first test of the evening as he blockered the puck away in the 6^th minute. Clan were back on the power play in the 8^th minute as Drake Pilon was called for slashing the stick and Owen again did well going post to post to deny Deven Sideroff. The Clan however did make their man advantage count moments later as Steven Seigo skated down into the slot to beat Owen on the stick side. Owen was quickly called into action as he made a save on Kielb but within a minute of scoring their second the Clan added another when Ully picked up a loose puck around the Flyers net and he picked the top corner over the glove of Owen. Patrick Kyte was next in the penalty box for another slashing call and Owen again made a huge save to prevent Mitchell Heard as he sprawled across his crease. Moments later Pelech went close with a tip from close range that Owen did well to stop as the Flyers completed the penalty kill. The Flyers first dangerous shift of the game came in the 15^th minute where they had the Clan hemmed in their own zone and a one timer from Musorov was well saved by Bow before Chris McKay was called for a hook. Seconds later the Flyers had a two man advantage as Seigo got the gate for a rough and they made the Clan pay with some patient passing and Michael Cichy from the top of the slot saw his shot go in off the post. With 90 seconds of a 5 on 4 remaining the Flyers went looking for another but almost gave up a short handed goal when Owen had to bail them out with a save on Cade Neilson. The Clan returned to full strength as Artur Gatiyatov tested Bow from range but the Clan keeper couldn’t deny Phélix Martineau in the 18^th minute as he waltzed through the visiting defence and his shot went above the pad and below the blocker to make it a one goal game. Disaster struck the Flyers with just 18 seconds left on the period when Ully once again reacted quickest to another loose puck around the Fife net and he walked it around Owen and into the goal to restore the two goal bulge and register his hat trick.

Joe Hazeldine had the first shot of the middle period which was sticked away by Owen. The Clan stretched their lead in the 23^rd minute when Gary Haden was set up by Seigo and from close range he gave Owen no chance. A minute later and Madi Dikhanbek was sent to the box for another slashing infraction. It was another short lived Clan power play as Seigo was called for a hook as the teams skated 4 on 4.  Tyson McLellan somehow managed to put his shot off of a player in front of a wide open net and moments later Neilson saw his shot beat Owen but clank off the crossbar. The Flyers returned to full strength for a short power play that was killed. The home side reduced arrears in the 29^th minute with a stickhandling master class by Lucas Chiodo who danced through on Bow and slipped the puck home. In the 32^nd minute Haden’s shot hit the frame of the goal and in the 35^th minute Heard went in all alone on Owen but the Flyers keeper shut him down with a blocker save. Alex Forbes was called for a cross checking penalty just a few seconds later but it was Simon Depres for the visitors who came closest with a short handed bid with another fine Owen save. With a second remaining in the period Haden was hauled down on his way through on goal and from the resultant penalty shot he elected to shoot on Owen but fired wide of the net.

The third period started with Ully almost grabbing his fourth goal but he couldn’t beat Owen. From the resultant face off there was another let off for the Flyers as a bobbling puck struck the post before being cleared. The Flyers were back on the power play in the 43^rd minute with an interference call on Heard but it was the visitors who scored the next goal shorthanded. A shot came back off the glass back out in front of the net and Neilson batted the puck into the net, the play was reviewed for a high stick but deemed legal. In the remainder of the Flyers power play they almost scrambled one home as Musorov couldn’t quite get enough on the puck and it was cleared. Bow made a huge save on Pilon in the 47^th minute and the visitors scored their 7^th moments later when Neilson was unmarked at the back post and he was able to pull the puck onto his backhand and squeeze it under the diving Owen. Forbes was back in the bin as he sat for tripping in the 48^th minute. The Flyers did get set up in the Clan zone but the visitors survived a scramble around the net which was later reviewed but no goal was the decision. The Flyers pulled to within three goals when Heidt on the rush provided a nice finish in the 50^th minute. In the 52^nd minute the Flyers went back on the power play as Kyte and Schwartz both got fighting majors and Liam Finlay picked up a two minute high sticking minor.  The Clan lead was further reduced as Austin Farley from the circles saw his shot flash into the net for the Flyers second power play goal of the night. The Clan had the puck in the net in the 55^th minute but the Flyers used their Coaches Challenge for goalie interference and the call of goal on the ice was overturned as the Flyers remained trailing by two goals. With the clock ticking down into then last two minutes the Flyers pulled Owen for an extra skater but couldn’t keep the puck in the Clan zone and Sideroff added salt to the wounds as he found the empty net.

Pic Credits – Jillian McFarlane and Derek Young

The Flyers are next at home on  Saturday 28th September when they entertain the Dundee Stars – tickets can be bought online here:  Tickets – Fife Flyers or look out on social media channels for box office opening times.