Back over to Fife for the follow up to yesterdays Semi. Caps' opponents were league champions Kirkcaldy, who had disposed of Dundee Comets 6-0 on Saturday. It would be a game that was all about penalties and powerplays.
Kestrels looked the better side early on in the first period, with Caps giving away daft penalties. Kirkcaldy took advantage of one to open the scoring just before the ten minute mark, and another powerplay goal three minutes later. Edinburgh started to get their act together, began to put the pressure on and a tidy move left Kieron Black an empty net to aim at and get one back. But the period ended with Kestrels on the powerplay once more and looking to put pressure on Caps at the start of the second.
Which duly translated into a goal in the opening minute. Only for the officials to disallow it for man in the crease, bringing relieved applause from the Caps fans. That seemed to knock Kirkcaldy back a bit and for most of the period it was Caps attacking. The equaliser came six minutes in, Ross Hay getting the final touch. But Kestrels netminder Marr was in great form and kept out everything else fired at him. It was no surprise to see him given the Man of the Match award.
The Fifers confidence was back in the third and play was evenly shared. It increasingly looked as though one goal would be all that was needed to settle it. Once again in was a powerplay goal from Kestrels with barely six minutes left to go. Like the previous two it was a shot from the blue line with Mallinson unsighted and having no chance of making the save.
Caps gave it their best shot in the closing minutes, but stout defence, and that man Marr, denied them. With Mallinson coming off to allow an extra skater, a breakout by Kestrels resulted in an empty net goal with six seconds remaining. And that was that. Caps only had themselves to blame, being punished for giving away too many penalties, and failing to do anything with their own powerplay opportunities. It didn't help that Beatson, normally such a reliable defenceman, had such an error strewn match.
Kestrels made few serious mistakes, took their chances well and fully deserved their victory and celebrations.
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