The Trade-Mart Dundee Stars had a hard fought battle with their Tayside rivals, Fife Flyers on Sunday night in a Challenge Cup Group A fixture and despite taking an early lead, they would fall behind and be unable to battle their way back.

By Kris Smith

The Stars regained forward, Johnny Walker after he served his two-game suspension to return to a full 20-man roster, whilst the Flyers made one change as backup netminder, Andrew Little dropped out and was replaced by Cameron Kenny.

Dundee got off to another quick start, this time taking the lead on the two minute-mark as Ryan Valentini burst down the left wing before delaying a pass across goal to the very last second and finding Anthony Rinaldi at the back post.

However, the Flyers would find a quick response just three minutes later as Collin Shirley jammed home a loose puck after a scramble in front of Kevin Carr’s goal and that brought the two bitter rivals back onto level terms.

Walker would then be the first player to be disciplined on the night as he served a two-minute penalty for hooking and just as the Flyers powerplay was about to expire, a rebound from another scramble in front of the Dundee net popped out for Anthon Eriksson to fire home and give the visitors a 2-1 lead.

Marc LeFebvre’s men were struggling to stay out of the sin bin but some good defending by his penalty killing units kept them just one goal down heading into the first break.

In the second session, it would be the Flyers who would be quick off the mark as Eriksson netted again to give his side a two-goal cushion, this time it was Stephen Desrochers’s pass deflecting in via the skates of Eriksson.

Read the full report below!