Within 3 minutes, the Hawks opened their account, thanks to a fine finish from Sam Dunford. Rick Ravey took possession of the puck in centre-ice, and laid it off to the on-rushing forward, who's strong wrist-shot went beneath Barlow, the Titans keeper. The watching fans didn't need to wait very long for goal number 2, this time David Miekle robbing the defenceman, and laying it off to Adam Brittle. He then moved into space in front of the net, and took the return pass - touching the puck neatly into the corner. With only 9 minutes gone, the match was over as a contest, when Aaron Davies and Matt Viney brought a superb double-save out of Barlow. Unfortunately for the over-worked goalkeeper, the puck fell loose and Rick Hughes was on-hand, to lift his shot into the roof of the net from in-close. However, it wasn't all one-way traffic, and Blackburn's 'back-up' goalie, Stuart Ashton, was called into action on several occasions, as Telford looked to counter-attack. The 'ever-dangerous' Karel Jets was at the centre of most of the visitors forays forward, but the young net-minder, ably assisted by a competent defensive unit, restricted them to nothing more than half-chances. Chris Arnone, who had just served a two-game ban, was keen to make amends, and during a sustained period of pressure on the powerplay, struck a ferocious slapshot which clipped off the post. A second 5-on-4 opportunity saw the arrival of Blackburn's 4th goal - Davies forcing the puck home, for his first of the evening. Ryan Stanton attempted to impose his physicality on the game, as the period drew to a close, but when Reece Cairney-Whitter pointed out that 'centre-ice was available, if he would like to dance' he sheepishly declined - much to the home-defenceman's disappointment.
The 2nd period started with the Hawks short-handed, but that did not deter Ollie Lomax from driving forward on a solo run. He received an elbow to the side of his helmet, for his trouble, and this was compounded when he lost his balance, and landed in the opposing net - the referee deeming it to be goalkeeper interference. The two-minute penalty saw the Titans with a 5-on-3, and Jets beat Ashton, to reduce arrears to only 3. This was as good as it got for the visitors, as Blackburn took the game by the scruff of the neck - scoring a dozen times, without reply. Four goals in as many minutes, from Brittle, Miekle, Lomax, and Viney, stretched the lead to 8-1, whereupon they then took their foot off the gas, somewhat. Cairney-Whitter was being given plenty of time on the ice, but two indiscretions for interference saw him take a seat in the penalty box. On 35 minutes, a coming-together between Ravey and Gordon culminated in both players taking off their helmets and gloves, but the officials were able to intervene before any punches were thrown.
The visitors almost notched their second of the evening, when Hughes deflected a pass towards his own net, but Ashton was alert, and spared the forward's blushes. By the 44th minute, the Hawks had reached double-figures, thanks to two quick-fire goals from Davies - the latter a particularly impressive finish into the top corner, which secured his hat-trick. From then until the end of the game, the hosts attacked almost at will, moving the puck around the ice with pace - leaving the demoralised Telford players chasing shadows. Miekle linked up with Brittle to score the 11th Hawks goal - a neat finish into the bottom corner, and a minute later, Davies made it a round dozen. Ex-Telford player, Danny Mackriel, finally got himself onto the scoresheet, when he reacted quickly to follow-up on his first shot, and the fans had barely re-taken their seats, when they were on their feet once again, thanks to Hughes. He then completed his hat-trick when Viney skated strongly into the opposing zone, and presented him with the easiest of tap-ins, before Brittle rounded off the blitz with a nice shot into the roof of the net.
The MVP was awarded to Rick Ravey.
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