Defeat for visitors in return game

Braehead Clan would fall in the return fixture as they were on the wrong side of defeat to Manchester Storm on Sunday.

Jacob Doty managed to fire home his third strike of the weekend, but it proved to be simply a consolation as Storm and Clan shared the weekend’s match-ups in the Challenge Cup.

Clan had headed south full of confidence following their stunning 7-5 win over their rivals the previous night. But with squad building something very much still ongoing, a lack of depth in the Clan roster was always going to take its toll.

John Tripp’s side had started the game well, but it was Storm who went in ahead at the first interval following Mike Hammond’s well-struck effort beyond Ryan Nie in goal.

Doty’s strike, which hit the bar before finding the back of the net, restored parity in the second period, only for another ex-Clan player Matt Beca to bag Storm’s second goal of the night late in the second period.

Clan head’s refused to go down as they continued to plug away, hitting the post again as they cranked up the pressure.

But Paul Swindlehurst’s goal in the third period opened up a gap that was never closed as he slotted home following a well-worked move.

A few more chances fell the way of Clan in the closing stages but Dane Byers managed to strike late on to complete the win.