PAISLEY Pirates coach Martin Shields was last night still pinching
himself at the success of his Benson & Hedges Cup ice hockey rookies.
The first division side slipped into the initial national competition
of the year as wild-card entries -- and now have a great chance of
qualifying for the knock-out stage along with Fife Flyers.
The amazing turnabout in the club's fortunes follows a surprise
victory over cup-holders Edinburgh Racers at The Lagoon last Saturday.
Racers rolled in, confident of picking up two points and, three hours
later, left red-faced after being beaten 8-5.
It is make or break this weekend for the Racers, who have also
suffered back-to-back defeats from arch rivals Fife Flyers.
They travel to Teesside Bombers on Saturday and entertain Blackburn
Hawks 24 hours later -- with their survival hopes hanging by a thread.
Coach Jock Hay knows his side must produce a weekend win double to pip
Pirates.
Paisley entertain Fife on Sunday, looking for a victory which could
clinch their place in the quarter-finals of a national competition for
the first time in their history.
It could all come down to goal difference between the teams, but coach
Shields said: ''People were writing us off, but we've surprised a few
people and everyone at the club has had a great boost from our cup run.
''It's up to us. It's a big task, as Fife haven't dropped a point.''
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