Osman's Michigan and a Guildford comeback cap a winning weekend

A spectacular home winner and a breakthrough against the reigning league champions see Cardiff finish September with three straight victories.

Steve Osman's winner against Milton Keynes would have been a highlight of the weekend on its own. A spectacular Michigan, the lacrosse-style finish from behind the net, completed his two-goal night and gave Cardiff a 2–1 home victory. Less than 24 hours later, the Canucks were building another memorable result, this time from three goals down at Guildford.

The two games on 26 and 27 September brought Cardiff's opening month to a close with six league points. Together, they also showed how much could change over the course of a weekend: a tight home contest settled by a moment of skill, followed by a comeback against a side that had held a firm upper hand in previous meetings.

Milton Keynes arrived at the Vindico Arena with recent history suggesting another close evening. Both league games between the teams last season had finished 4–3 to Cardiff in overtime. In the earlier home meeting, Osman had scored twice before Joe Tearall supplied the winner.

This time, Osman would provide both the recovery and the deciding goal.

Joshua Blackwood gave the Thunder a first-period lead, leaving Cardiff with work to do after the opening break. Osman equalised midway through the second, assisted by Sam Davies, but the teams remained tied going into the third. With another one-goal game there to be won, his Michigan at 45:46, assisted by Carter Lloyd, supplied a finish worthy of the occasion.

Cardiff still had more than fourteen minutes to see out. They held the lead, earned the regulation win and headed to Guildford with back-to-back victories following the previous weekend's success against Oxford.

The challenge at the Spectrum was considerable. Guildford had won the NIHL2 South league title in each of the previous two seasons, and Cardiff had lost all four league meetings with the Phoenix during that period. The two earlier trips to Guildford had ended in 8–2 and 9–1 defeats.

When the hosts moved into a 3–0 lead early in the second period, Cardiff were again facing a difficult evening at a rink where results had been hard to come by.

The response changed the game in less than two minutes. Cardiff's first goal arrived at 30:51, Hallewell added another 48 seconds later and Viktor Langseth struck on the power play to make it 3–3. Three goals in one minute and 46 seconds had erased the deficit.

Guildford were not finished. Paul Petts restored their advantage before the second intermission, leaving Cardiff behind once more with twenty minutes to play. Having fought their way back into contention, the Canucks still had to find a way past the champions.

Osman made it 4–4 early in the third. Just 57 seconds later, Langseth scored his second to put Cardiff ahead for the first time. Hallewell then added his second of the evening to give the visitors a two-goal cushion, and Cardiff kept Guildford scoreless throughout the final period to complete the 6–4 win.

Langseth finished with two goals and an assist, while Hallewell's double helped turn a long run of defeats in this fixture into the Canucks' first victory over the Phoenix. Giacomo Raffaelli, Lloyd and Jaydon Ford each contributed two assists.

The result completed a September finish of three successive wins, all achieved after Cardiff had trailed. Against Guildford, the recovery carried particular weight: the Canucks had overcome both a three-goal deficit and the history of the fixture.

The next meeting brings the Phoenix to the Vindico Arena on Sunday 1 November, giving Cardiff supporters the chance to see the return on home ice. Before then, Slough visit on Sunday 25 October at 6.30pm. Make a date for the 'Nuck House and help the Canucks take on their next home challenges.