'The boys reacted' - Timely words help Leeds Knights extend winning streak and keep National Cup hopes alive

Going into the first period break, the teams were tied at 1-1 after Oli Endicott’s eighth-minute opener - his first goal since September 26 - was cancelled out by a power play strike at 15.55 from Bristol’s always-dangerous import Jake Bricknell.

Whatever was said in the first intermission by Aldridge clearly had the desired effect, the Knights putting the game beyond doubt with four unanswered goals in the second period.

They added two more in a relatively quiet third period to cap an impressive 7-1 win which lifted them to third in the NIHL National regular season standings.

More importantly, it gave them their sixth straight win in the National Cup preliminary group stage, leaving them fourth in the standings, which sees just two points separate the top five teams.

Hull Seahawks are fifth on the same points as Leeds, with the Knights slightly ahead by virtue of having scored more goals in their eight games played so far. Both teams currently have a plus-eight goal difference and will have a clearer indication of their chances of making the semi-finals when they finish off their respective Cup schedules this weekend.

On Saturday, Leeds host Romford Raiders, while Hull visit Sheffield Steeldogs. Sunday brings Hull and Leeds up against each other in East Yorkshire.

Leaders Milton Keynes Lightning and third-placed Swindon Wildcats don’t finish their Cup schedules until later in the month, likewise the Steeldogs who are currently three points back off Leeds and Hull with a game in hand.

Defeat to the Seahawks and one win each this weekend for Swindon and Leeds would signal the end of Sheffield’s hopes of retaining the trophy they won last year in a dramatic two-legged final against the Knights.

Aldridge, missing import forward Matt Bissonnette to injury after his two-goal contribution in the 5-4 overtime win at Bristol on Saturday, said: “I wasn't happy with the first 20 minutes. I didn't think we were very good - thought we were second to every puck, lost every battle.

“We had a little talk during the period break and I thought the boys reacted. I thought they were phenomenal for the last 40 minutes.

“The scoring went right through the line-up and Oli probably had his best game of the year for me.”

With Aldridge’s words ringing in their ears, the Knights regained the lead when Finley Bradon redirected Jonas Bennett’s feed past Will Kerlin at 27.37 before three goals in as many minutes settled the contest.

Owen Sobchak beat Kerlin at his near post from a tight angle close in off a feed from Kieran Brown behind the net at 35.03 before Endicott grabbed his second of the night 79 seconds later when left all alone in front.

Just over two minutes later, Sobchak was then awarded a penalty shot when hauled down in the neutral zone and dispatched it with aplomb, finding the top left-hand corner of Kerlin’s goal with a sweet back-hand finish.

Innes Gallacher further marked his return from an eighth-month injury lay-off with a fourth goal in five games when scoring from the left circle to make it 6-1 at 41.54.

Brown then got his reward when Liam Peyton found him in front to fire past Kerlin at 49.37.

It will no doubt have made for a long coach ride home for the Pitbulls - adrift at the bottom with just two wins to their name - but Aldridge was impressed with the resolve shown by his team’s opponents, particularly the previous night when they forced the Knights into overtime.

“They rolled four lines at us (on Saturday) and we were obviously short,” Aldridge added in his Knights TV post-match interview. “We had a few players back in the lineup tonight, but were still short.

“But they rolled at us (on Saturday) and I thought they were brilliant, they worked really hard and they deserved a point out of that hockey game.

“And it was the same again tonight - when they’ve got a full line-up, they're a better hockey team than people give them credit for.”