Orchid sponsors the latest Nottingham Panthers win over the Coventry Blaze - 8/12/2009

Orchid ITs Financial Director James Twigg & daughter Leia with Panthers Man of the Match, Kevin St.Pierre

The first of two games between rivals Nottingham and Coventry this weekend ended in success for the GMB Panthers with a final scoreline of 6-2.

Elsewhere, new league leaders Belfast lost at Newcastle (2-1) while Cardiff beat Edinburgh (5-2) and Sheffield won at Hull (1-5).

The game in Nottingham had to be delayed because of road closures imposed around the arena and fans who braved the elements and persisted through the traffic were rewarded with a super game.

GMB Panthers showed great team work and were deserved winners although coach Corey Neilson admitted afterwards it was a "strange" game and the scoreline could just as easily ended up 10-8. In reality first and third period successes, each by three goals to one, added up to a four goal margin.

Coventry took the lead with a rebound on the powerplay but Jade Galbraith played a massive part in two powerplay goals, finished off by Kevin Bergin and Sean McAslan to take the lead which was stretched when Cameron Mann poke checked on penalty-kill duty in his own zone and took the puck all the way to finish his one-on-one through the five-hole.

No scoring in an end to end second period and tension grew when Blaze got one back in the third before a late blitz rounded off the scoring with three more well-worked efforts from McAslan, Marc Levers, and Corey Neilson.

The sides meet again in Coventry on Sunday night.

Next up in Nottingham its the Hull Stingrays, next Sunday. The GMB Panthers players will be in the foyer after that one to personalise Christmas gifts with autographs for the fans. See you there!