Thank you to Robert Newbolt for
his contribution to FSB, All Credit for this piece goes to him so any queries
you can contact Robert on Twitter @NewboltRobert
IT’S PLAY OFF TIME!
APRIL 1995 (20 yrs)
Into April and the play offs.
Steelers had an indifferent start, losing the first two games, at Nottingham and Fife.
They soon picked up the pace though, and won their remaining four games with a total of 29 goals. McKay posted another shut out against Fife (28 shots), his second against them that season.
So we come to the final weekend of the season at Wembley.
Up first, in the semi-final were the team who had beaten Steelers 12-1 in their inaugural season on the big stage.
Last year Cardiff were 7-0 up before Scott Neil scored
Steelers’ only goal.
The highlight of this year’s weekend (for a neutral) was
this semi-final with Cardiff, a magnificent match which will stand as one of
the British game’s most outstanding contests.
The Steelers won it on penalties (5-4) with the excellent Martin McKay stopping three of Cardiff’s first four efforts, while Ken Priestlay, Steve Nemeth and Les Millie netted for Sheffield after the match had ended 4-4.
Less than 24 hours later, in front of a crowd of more than
8,800, the Steelers enjoyed a comfortable 7-2 victory over an Edinburgh Racers
side containing the likes of Tony Hand to complete the double, with The
Yorkshire Post lamenting: “The final, judged in comparison, was an anti-climax
which was further marred by a referee who had no control over the game and was
out of his depth.”
The
resulting shootout: SHOOTOUT
The final,
although an anti-climax, was sweet glory for Sheffield and coming on top of the
league win pushed them to the top.
Steelers
answered the question as to whether they would be conned into the same type of
game as Nottingham were the night before with an emphatic ‘NO’.
Edinburgh
were left short-handed for a greater part of the opening ten minutes and
Steelers scored two in just 24 seconds. Even though the Racers got two goals in
the middle period: goals from Cranston, Priestlay (2), Millie , Nemeth and
Wilson sealed it for the new boys.
Defenceman
Ron Shudra, with the club since its formation, scoring 13 points in eight games
during the post-season, including five goals.
After the
final Ron commented “I think for that play-off final, being there and losing
the way we did the year before to Cardiff gave us such an added incentive to
make sure that we finished it off when we went back that time and saw the job
through against Edinburgh.”
If you were
wondering who the ‘over-zealous’ referee was: Graham Horner was in the stripes.
On a
personal note I watched this game on the BBC
in a little flat in Filey.
APRIL 2000 (15 yrs)
Steeler’s owner Darren Brown completed the takeover of Westfield Sharks
last night, signing an undisclosed package to assume sole control of the club.
The 28 year old sports magnate, who was also unveiled as new boss of
Chesterfield FC this week.
Steelers kept their most important close season promise today, by
re-signing the man who puts the backbone into the team. Muscleman Dennis Vial
wanted by teams across the world, agreed a new one-year-deal with the Steelers.
Concentrating on the play offs became almost impossible with the
Challenge Cup Final being scheduled for a few days earlier.
For this Steelers travelled to London Arena and here Mike Blaisdell had his
first taste of victory in a Sheffield v Nottingham cup final as they won 2-1.
Ed Courtenay and Jason Weaver scored the two valuable goals.
Nottingham’s
Jordan Willis was inspired in the net, turning away 29 shots.
After the
game Blaisdell complained “The penalties disrupted the flow. We knew they had
injuries and wanted to go at them”. But he didn’t complain about the crowd
“They were like an extra player, it was like being at home” he said as 4,000
fans roared them on.
The final
moments of celebration were spoiled somewhat as, with 3.1 seconds left Carson
blew for offside, because of the noise no-one heard and the clock ticked down,
fireworks flashed, tickertape rained down and it was eventually agreed to end
the game to prevent a fiasco.
Spurred on by this and with the championship trophy left to win
Steelers’ were confident in the semi-final against the leagues wooden spoon
team, Newcastle Riverkings.
But it was not to be with Jimmy Hibbert standing on his head in the goal
for the Riverkings.
Two long serving Steelers, Tommy Plommer and Andre Malo retired at the
end of the season.
APRIL 2005
(10yrs)
Their
championship hopes were dashed by the eventual winners -Coventry- in the Semi-finals
when, even though they had 41 shots they failed to beat Jody Lehman and were
defeated 3-0.
Still they
did claim something when they defeated Cardiff Devils 4-2 in the third and
fourth place play offs.
APRIL 2010 (5yrs)
This month,
unfortunately, for the first time in their history Steelers failed to make the
play off finals, having gone out in the knockout stages to Cardiff.
So the main
thing for the players was to book flights home and book some holidays.
Nb:
If you want this kind of thing next year please let me (@NewboltRobert) or Tom (@TomWalkeden) know.
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