Leeds Chiefs 6 Hull Pirates 9 - Home ice frustration increases as Chiefs let lead slip

At one point it looked like Leeds Chiefs might end their four-game losing streak and record a win on home ice for the first time since February 23.

And after going 5-2 up just past the halfway mark at Elland Road against Hull Pirates, such an outcome looked highly likely.

But, as Hull Pirates proved last season, when winning a treble, they are a team you write off at your peril.

Missing the influential figures of player-coach Jason Hewitt and fellow forwards Bobby Chamberlain and James Archer - himself a former Chiefs favourite - Hull produced a startling third-period comeback to leave their hosts crushed on the wrong end of a 9-6 scoreline.

Cutting the deficit to two goals before the second period break through Sam Towner was crucial for the visitors, who until that point had been second-best.

Then, no doubt galvanised by the lifeline they had thrown themselves, Hull fired in a further six goals in the final 20 minutes.

The first two of those came within 17 seconds of each other to pull themselves level - Lee Bonner’s effort being followed by Jordan Fisher’s strike - only for the Chiefs to then regain the lead five minutes later when Lewis Baldwin fired one in from the blue line while on the power play at 49.19.

But that was as good as it got for the hosts, the Pirates hauling themselves level once again when Matty Davies produced neat skill behind the net before swivelling to feed Kevin Phillips who couldn’t miss from close range at 50.06.

The goal that seemed to knock the stuffing out of Leeds came just nine seconds later when Matt Bissonnette was left alone to fire past Sam Gospel to put the visitors in front for the first time on the night.

As the Chiefs pressed for an equaliser, Bonner showed neat hands to work an opening for himself, Gospel was quick to deny but David Norris followed up to fire home the rebound. Bonner himself then added insult to injury when adding an empty-net strike with nine seconds left.

Such an outcome had looked a long way off midway through the game when the Chiefs were good value for their three-goal lead.

A slow start by both teams - the Chiefs were missing defenceman and captain Luke Boothroyd as well as forwards, Andres Kopstals Jordan Kelsall and Connor Henderson - had seen chances at a premium.

After Caly Robertson went close, it wasn’t long before the home fans were cheering, Adam Barnes working well behind the net to carve out an opening for himself which saw him squeeze the puck in at Ashley Smith's near post for a power play opener at 9.58. It was followed 41 seconds later by a breakaway strike from Robertson.

Hull halved the deficit just 11 seconds later, though, through Norris, with captain Towner levelling matters up early in the second with a power play strike.

But then came Leeds’ best period of the game, first regaining the lead at 24.34 through Baldwin's distance strike before they doubled their advantage 14 seconds later through Daniel Justovics, the 16-year-old debutant from neighbouring Bradford Bulldogs.

It got even better for the home side when Robertson got his third goal in Chiefs’ colours after skilfully redirecting a sharp, accurate pass from Sam Zajac in front.

The home fans were understandably delirious - particularly after witnessing three straight home defeats - but it was the away support who were singing loudest at the end.