Braves are blown away by the Storm

WHITLEY Braves opened their account in English Under-18 North Division Two with a disappointing 9-2 defeat in Altrincham against Manchester Storm.

The Braves handed debuts to Adam Harrison following his move from Billingham Stars and Callum Taylor, who has returned to the club following a spell at Sheffield.

Manchester took the lead when their captain Sam Penner notched after just 29 seconds.

Their advantage was doubled in the seventh minute with the home side short-handed when Dylan Harcourt netted.

Storm were the dominant force throughout most of the first period and Jack Wakefield in the visitors’ net had to be on top of his game to keep the score down.

It remained at 2-0 until 20.06 when the Braves halved the deficit Thomas Fraser (right) registering his opening goal of the season. Wakefield was beaten four times in a little over three minutes just after the game’s middle point as Manchester went 6-1 ahead courtesy of Harcourt, Billy King, Sam Jones and Kieran Clarkson. Jones and Clarkson took the score to 8-1 before Fraser recorded his second goal of the game at 49.54.

The scoring was completed with a powerplay goal at 53.51 put away by Max Sullivan.