TUG OF WAR: Blackburn Hawks scrap with their Flintshire Freeze counterparts in Saturday's English Cup win
BLACKBURN Hawks gave their fans the perfect New Year's gift, by crushing bitter rivals, Flintshire Freeze in the English Cup.
The visitors, whose team included a number of ex-Blackburn players, came to the Arena looking to avenge a 3-0 defeat earlier in the season.
In an end to end start, both teams came close to scoring, but the net-minders were in inspired form.
Eventually, it was the Hawks youngster, Max Drakeley, who opened the scoring, when he found himself free on the blue line.
He bore down on goal, and placed it neatly in the corner of the net.
Just two minutes later, the home fans were on their feet once again, as some slick inter-play by the Hawks forwards gave David Miekle room on the left.
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He placed a pin-point pass onto the stick of the on-rushing Ricky Bentham, who rounded the keeper with ease.
The second period was mostly dominated by Blackburn again, with the Freeze players often chasing shadows, and becoming increasingly frustrated.
The game increased in intensity, with hard-hitting from both teams.
Eventually, the pressure told, and a goalmouth scramble resulted in Ollie Lomax scoring the third.
Three further goals in the final couple of minutes, from Harry Hall, Anthony Kinder, and Ricci Hulme put the game well beyond the tiring Flintshire team.
In the third, the Hawks played a more containing game, looking to catch the opposition on the break.
It was star import, Dusan Kubik, back in a Hawks shirt after several weeks away, who got the seventh Blackburn goal, courtesy of a three-on-two breakaway.
After 50 minutes, shut-out hero Danny Brittle was replaced between the pipes, to resounding applause from the fans.
The new keeper, Ian Thirkettle, was determined to maintain the shut-out, and made several quality saves, as the Freeze strived to get onto the board.
The final Hawks goal came three minutes from the final buzzer, a cool finish from the stick of Chris Arnone.
MVP was given to Michael Brunton, as a result of an inspired captain's performance.
The fans were sent home happy, and optimistic that the rest of the season has much to offer.
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