By Chris Brierley

IT would be ridiculous to suggest just three games into the campaign that Manchester Storm have a team capable of winning something this season.

But what the heck, I'm going to say it anyway.

A week ago in Sheffield hundreds of Storm fans would have said I need my head feeling after Daryl Lipsey's new look team were embarrassed by a shocking 8-4 defeat.

But a week, it would seem, is a long time in sport, and the Storm followed up Saturday night's unlucky defeat in Belfast with a thrilling and deserved victory over the Steelers last night (Sunday).

Tense

It was manna from heaven for the Storm fans who have stuck with the team through thick and thin, and they were on their feet long before the finish of a nailbiting match packed with incident and emotion.

If I am right, then, hopefully, we could see those disaffected supporters who pine for the glory days trickling back.

If I am wrong then it could be goodnight Vienna!

So why have I put my head on the block after last night's game which was so close to call it could have gone either way. No-one could have argued if the Steelers had salvaged a point - after all they had the chances.

Defiant

There was a dogged defiance running right through the team from netminder Stevie Lyle who played out of his skin; to defenceman Dan Preston,who played with a crippling stomach bug; to battling Shawn Maltby, who chased every puck; to super confident Colin Pepperall; to beligerant David Longstaff.

These players are winners, and that's something the team was light on last season.

Take Longstaff, for example. His goal in the last minute of the first period was his 100th in Superleague.

What did it mean to him,he was asked after the game? "Absolutely nothing," was the reply.

All that matters to Longstaff is winning. And that's the attitude Storm must adopt this season if they can bring some glory back to Manchester.

They have the strength in depth to do it, with Maltby, Ryan Stuart, Pierre Allard and Pasi Nielikainen a highly impressive third line.

Class

And with Pepperall, Longstaff and Geoff Peters bolstering the first two lines, it looks as though they could have the class.

We mustn't forget last season's star players in all this, and last night captain Ivan Matulik scored two vital goals.

Storm led 2-1 by the first break, with goals from Pepperall and Longstaff giving them the advantage after Jason Sessa had put the Steelers ahead.

Matulik made it 3-1 with a short-handed goal midway throught the second period but the Steelers hit back. Chris Szysky pulled one back on the powerplay, and then a howler by Rob Wilson let in Rhett Gordon for an easy goal.

Rick Brebant handed the impetus back to the Storm by foolishly cross-checking Maltby to earn a five minute major plus game penalty.

Seconds into the powerplay Matulik put Storm ahead for the winner.

Are Storm strong enough to land some silverware this season? Have your say

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