Murrayfield Racers keep up fine league form - but some on-ice hairdryer treatment is needed

Murrayfield Racers were 7-1 victors over Aberdeen Lynx. Pic: Ian Coyle

Murrayfield Racers kept up their fine Scottish National League form with a comprehensive 7-1 home win over Aberdeen Lynx on Sunday night. It was their third win in 15 days over the North East outfit, following their home and away successes in the semi-final of the Stuart Robertson cup.

Only some great net-minding from Lynx goalie and man-of-the-match Craig Chalmers kept Racers at bay in the early stages, before Leis Gold broke the deadlock with a shot fired into the top corner at 12 minutes and ten seconds, Joel Gautschi adding a second on the power-play five minutes later.

The first period break saw experienced Racers’ net-minder Mark McGill replaced by 16-year-old home prospect Harry Elder, who went on to stop ten of the 11 shots he faced.

“It was just about keeping Mark fresh, and making sure nothing happened to him ahead of next weekend’s Stuart Robertson Cup final [against Dundee Comets], and it was another chance for us to give Harry some ice time because he’s very capable,” said Racers bench-coach Jock Hay.

It was a somewhat lacklustre second period from the home team, Racers’ Archie Holmes and Lynx’s JP Jack trading goals to make it 3-1. During that period Murrayfield director of hockey Tony Hand called a time-out. “We had been telling them to play a certain way and they weren’t doing it, Tony wasn’t happy, so he brought them over to the bench and told them that in no uncertain terms,” added Hay.

The on-ice hairdryer treatment worked, with Racers adding a fourth goal 40 seconds after the restart through Michael Ireland.

Racers came out firing in the third period, dominating the game like they had early on. Garry Simpson grabbed his first goals for his new club with a quick-fire double in the 47th and 51st minute, before Gold rounded off the scoring late on with his second goal of the game.