The Morley Glass Leeds Knights held off a dramatic third-period comeback attempt to secure a thrilling 5–4 victory over the Sheffield Steeldogs, after racing into an early lead and surviving late pressure at the end.
Leeds started the game in perfect fashion and took control of the first period with clinical finishing.
They struck early when Finn Bradon opened the scoring at 1:45, finishing from Oli Endicott to give Leeds the ideal start.
Leeds doubled their advantage midway through the period. Matthew Bissonnette made it 2–0 at 14:56, with assists from Sam Cooper and Edgars Vengis, as the Knights continued to dictate the play.
Just before the first intermission, Leeds struck again. Finn Bradon grabbed his second of the night at 19:50, finishing a move set up by Sam Dunn and Sam Gospel to send the Knights into the break with a commanding 3–0 lead.
Sheffield came out stronger in the middle frame and began to chip away at the deficit. Michael Danečko got the Steeldogs on the board at 25:56, assisted by Liam Steele and Finley Williams, cutting the lead to 3–1 and shifting momentum toward the visitors.
The remainder of the period became more physical, with Leeds killing off a penalty late in the frame to maintain their two-goal advantage heading into the third.
The Steeldogs continued their push early in the final period. Liam Steele scored at 41:04 to bring Sheffield within one before Ivan Björkly-Nordström tied the game at 44:22, assisted by Kyle Watson and Ben Morgan, completing the comeback from 3–0 down.
Leeds responded at the perfect moment. On the power play at 53:18, Balint Pakozdi fired the Knights back in front, assisted by Sam Dunn and Liam Peyton, restoring the lead at 4–3.
However, the Steeldogs answered again. With the man advantage, Joonas Larinmaa scored a powerplay goal at 55:50, assisted by Ivan Björkly-Nordström, levelling the game at 4–4 and setting up a tense finale.
Despite Sheffield pushing late, Leeds took advantage, and at 58:52, Oli Endicott scored into the empty net, assisted by Owen Sobchak, sealing a 5–4 victory for the Knights.
They Knights may have surrendered a three-goal lead, but they showed resilience to regain control late on and secure another important win in a fiercely contested Yorkshire clash.
