Revenge for Clan as they topple Lightning

Clan exacted revenge over Pete Russell’s former side with a thumping win at Braehead on Saturday night.

After defeat to Milton Keynes on Wednesday and an overtime loss to Sheffield Steelers the previous night, a win at home was just what the doctor ordered.

It always looked like it was going to be Clan’s night as they raced out of the traps and created a number of early opportunities.

Matt Haywood was first to chance his luck as he struck the post.

But it took the hosts 14 minutes to eventually break the deadlock when Scott Pitt set up Matt Beca to cooly fire beyond helpless MK keeper Adam Goss.

Craig Peacock was sure he had doubled the lead moments later but a referee’s review deemed the goals to have moved before the puck crossed the line.

Clan’s narrow advantage was always suspect and they found themselves back on level terms early in the second period when Michael Fine tapped home the rebound following Joel Rumpel’s save from Eric Neiley.

But the home side remained in control of the game as Beca teed up Pitt for a thunderous drive that gave the netminder no chance.

Travis Erhardt then extended the lead to 3-1 after some clever work from Vaclav Stupka behind the goal.

By the time the teams reached the final period, Beca had got his second goal of the net after slotting past Goss.

Josh Gratton made it 5-1 when he robbed the Lightning forward before bearing down on goal and expertly finishing.

MK got themselves back into the game with quickfire goals from Georgs Golovkovs and Fine, with his second.

However, Gratton’s second of the night rounded off the scoring as he blasted home a one-time effort to end a five game run in just eight days.