Paisley Ice Rink was rocking as the Paisley Pirates edged out the Dundee Rockets in a breathless 4–3 victory, a game that had everyone on their feet right to the final buzzer.
Goals from Craig Peacock, Jamie Crawford (2), and Chris Turley gave the Pirates a commanding early advantage, with the hosts racing into a 3–0 lead thanks to a dominant, attack-minded first period. However, the Rockets showed exactly why they are regarded as one of the league’s toughest opponents, battling back and forcing the Pirates to give everything in a tense final stretch.
The turning point came early in the third period. After settling the game down, a superb play through the middle from Ollie King found Jamie Crawford, who made no mistake in slotting home what proved to be the decisive goal. With the Rockets pulling their netminder late on, the Pirates were pushed to the limit, hanging on under intense pressure for the final five minutes.
Speaking after the game, Pirates Head Coach Ian Turley praised both the resilience of his side and the quality of the opposition: “It was a tough, tough game. We were very offensive in the first period, which was the message, then we had a bit of a lull and they punished us. In the third, we settled things down, got the goal we needed, and then it was about hanging on. Dundee are a very good team with real depth, and they showed that again tonight. I thought it was a valiant performance from our guys.”
A standout performance earned Bari McKenzie the Man of the Match honours. While not called upon for spectacular saves, McKenzie was exceptional in his positioning and game awareness, cutting off channels, forcing the Rockets wide, and making life easier for the defence in front of him.
Turley added: “Against a team like that, you have to keep them to the outside. It’s defence first – blocking shots, getting in lanes, and making it as simple as possible at the back. Bari was fantastic tonight.”
The win continues the Pirates’ strong home form and underlines the character of a side willing to grind out results when under pressure.
Final Score: Paisley Pirates 4 – 3 Dundee Rockets
Goals: Peacock, Crawford (2), Turley
Man of the Match: Bari McKenzie
