Steelers left with giant challenge after Belfast defeat

The result ended Steelers’ 10-game unbeaten run and leaves them nine points behind Belfast. But, with six games still in hand on Doug Christiansen’s team and three meetings still to come between the two teams, Steelers control their own destiny.

Sheffield had gone into the meeting at the Motorpoint Arena having edged the two previous meetings between the two by the odd goal and a third win looked possible when Luke Fulghum gave them the lead in the 11th minute.

But former Steelers favourite Rob Dowd came back to haunt his old team-mates when he equalised for the visitors at 22.42, later having a hand in what would prove to be the game-winning goal.

Colt King fired Steelers in front again on the powerplay at 32.09 and they looked like carrying that lead into the second break but, with player-coach Ryan Finnerty in the penalty box on an interference call, Jeff Mason levelled on the powerplay at 39.47.

Another powerplay strike less than two minutes into the third – Dowd and Craig Peacock setting up Jon Pelle – put the impressive Giants ahead for the first time and they followed it up with a fourth goal at 42.21 by Mike Hoffman, leaving Steelers with too much of a mountain to climb.

On Saturday, Steelers had extended their winning streak with a 3-0 victory over struggling Yorkshire rivals Hull Stingrays, who had been on the receiving end of an 8-2 thrashing at home to Coventry Blaze the previous night.

It was by no means easy for the home team as they came up against a visiting Hull side determined to prove they were no walkover, although their travelling support may have thought differently after defenceman Matt Stephenson gave Steelers an early lead at 4.29.

But Finnerty’s team had to wait until the closing stages of the second period to double their advantage through Jeff Legue, with the added insurance of a third goal not coming until the last minute of the game when Fulghum scored an empty-netter after the visitors had pulled goaltender Christian Boucher.

In the English Premier League, Sheffield Steeldogs ensured their interest in the title race remains alive after three goals in five third-period minutes gave them a 3-0 win over Peterborough Phantoms.

Andre Payette’s team were keen to avenge a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Phantoms three weeks earlier, but had to wait until 43.15 for their opener through top marksman Janis Ozolins.

A little over a minute later it was 2-0, when Ozolins helped set up Ashley Calvert and the game was made secure when Ozolins’s fellow Latvian forward Raivis Kurnigins got his first goal for the club – in his fourth appearance – at 48.56.

The result leaves Steeldogs in fourth place, seven points adrift of leaders Guildford Flames.