REPORT: Braehead Clan 8 Fife Flyers 5

Glasgow’s Braehead Clan need one more win to clinch the Gardiner Conference, but they need Fife Flyers to help them deliver it.

A win for the Flyers at home to Dundee Stars in regulation time would seal a third straight Gardiner Conference title for Braehead on Saturday.

This 8-5 victory over Todd Dutiaume’s men allowed the Clan to take a big stride towards another title and a top play-off seeding.

Scott Pitt got the opening goal after he was set up by Alex Leavitt, before Fife Flyers levelled things shortly after as Ryan Dingle found the net with a backhanded finish.

The Flyers captain added a second, who let rip with a venomous shot that flew past home netminder Gary Russell.

Cody Carlson brought Ryan Finnerty’s side back on level terms with a one-timer that left Fife goalie Shane Owen beaten.

Dingle completed his hat-trick on a powerplay in a quick move, set up by Sebastien Thinel, but that was wiped out as Matt Keith got a final touch on a chance by Stefan Della Rovere.

Clan went in after the first with a 4-3 lead as Corey Cowick finished off his own rebound after the team had won the face off in the Flyers end.

The home side kicked on in the second period as two goals in the opening five minutes of the session made the scoreline a bit more one-sided.

Della Rovere poked in a chance at the near post to open up a 5-3 lead then Cowick added his second of the night with a low shot that beat Owen on his right side.

Then Cowick completed his hat-trick with a quick fire move as Matt Hammond and Scott Pitt set him up with the assist.

Fife caused an early third period scare when Carlo Finucci and Matt Sisca got two goals back to reduce the arrears to two.

But Pitt’s second of the night settled any nerves and confirmed two big points for the Clan, who have won their last four now.