CARDIFF Devils twice came from a goal behind on their way to a 4-3 victory against a dogged Braehead Clan side at Ice Arena Wales on Sunday evening.
Two goals from man-of-the-match Guillaume Doucet and one each from Josh Batch and Joey Martin proved decisive in an entertaining and, at times, feisty Celtic clash.
The win ensured a perfect weekend for the Devils, who beat Sheffield Steelers on Friday night, and extends their lead at the top of the Elite League.
Watched by special guest Bruce Dickinson, lead singer of Iron Maiden, the home side came galloping out of the starting blocks.
However, against the run of play, it was the visitors who opened the scoring. Mike Hammond wheeled away to celebrate an unassisted goal with less than five minutes on the clock.
The Devils allowed a number of good chances to come and go, to the despair of the home support, but Doucet did much to settle fraught nerves by popping up with an equaliser five minutes before the interval.
The visiting side, fortunate to end the first period on level terms, emerged from the break with a new-found focus.
HAPPY DEVILS: Alex Sherer, 31, and Kate Read, 29, both from Brynna, hugely enjoyed the match.
The Devils’ defence was battered by wave upon wave of attack and with 26 minutes played, the inevitable happened.
Ben Bowns did well to soften the blow of the incoming Clan shot but watched helplessly as the puck sneaked through him and over the line to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
A time-out was called by Devils’ coach Andrew Lord which proved to be expertly judged.
Just seconds after returning to the ice, the Devils made it 2-2 through defenceman Josh Batch. For the remainder of the second period, both sides enjoyed periods of dominance as passions ran high.
A confrontation between the Clan’s Jay Rosehill and the Devils’ bench resulted in penalties against both sides for unsportsmanlike conduct.
When Doucet scored his second goal of the evening just two minutes into the final period and Martin added the Devils’ fourth shortly afterwards, the game looked dead and buried.
This feeling was intensified when the Clan were reduced to three outfield players and the Devils ran rampant.
Yet, against all odds, it was the visitors who notched the final goal of the evening with 48 seconds remaining.
Unfazed, the Devils refused to buckle and greeted the final whistle with a well-deserved victory in front of a sell-out crowd.
