Leeds Knights 5 Solway Sharks: Liam Peyton rewarded as Knights see off troublesome rivals
RYAN ALDRIDGE revealed import forward Liam Peyton was concerned he wasn’t contributing enough to the Leeds Knights cause ahead of Sunday’s clash at home to Solway Sharks.
But a pre-game chat with the Knights’ head coach clearly did the trick, with the 25-year-old Canadian coming to the fore to score two goals and an assist in a convincing 5-1 win over a troublesome Sharks team.
The result - from the Knights’ only game of the weekend - was enough to keep them in touch with leaders Swindon Wildcats, who they trail by three points, and Sheffield Steeldogs, who leapfrogged them into second place courtesy of a four-point weekend.
While the result was a comfortable one in the end - Sam Gospel only being denied a third straight shutout in the last 10 minutes - it was a far from easy night for the Knights, with the Sharks’ desire to mix it up perhaps more than your average NIHL National team, noticeable.
And while Aldridge was less than impressed with certain aspects of the visitors’ tactics - “I just know there was a lot of stuff out there tonight that was uncalled for and no need” - he was delighted for Peyton to be rewarded for his hard-working approach.
“Peyts has been a little bit down lately and not thinking he was contributing enough,” said Aldridge after the centre found the net for the first time in eight games.
“But we spoke before the game and told him not to worry about that and, like buses, two came along at once for him.”
Peyton’s double came as part of a three-goal burst early in the second period which put the hosts in control, the deadlock being broken by Finley Bradon at 21.35.
Peyton doubled the lead just 62 seconds later before making it 3-0 with less than two further minutes having passed.
The Sharks, who had heavily outshot their hosts in the first period - one which saw Balint Pakozdi and Sam Dunn drop the gloves with Jonathan Yantsis and former Knights’ forward Carter Hamill respectively - had no answer before the second intermission.
They fell further behind when Arturs Mickevics made it 4-0 at 43.33.
A mistake on an otherwise impressive night by Kieran Brown allowed Yantsis to break free and round Sam Gospel to make it 4-1 at 51.36.
But, fittingly, the Knights had the last word, a well-worked move ending with Matt Bissonnette blasting past Jordan Marr with just 52 seconds remaining.