RAF reach Inter Service ice hockey decider after beating Navy in eight-goal thriller

The Royal Air Force Aces have set up a showdown with the Army Blades after defeating the Royal Navy Destroyers 5-3 in an eight-goal thriller in Sheffield.

The tone was set early – the Aces came out with intensity in the first period, with the better of the possession but were unable to convert opening 20 minutes and it was they who got the scoreboard ticking – a Crane strike with an assist from Stennett, with just over a minute to go before the first interval.

The score also raised the volume of a raucous crowd at Ice Sheffield, which featured players' families, friends and fans of all ages.

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It was not long, however, before the Aces equalised, coming out with strong attacking intent at the beginning of the second period.

Jones levelled the score and teammate Sampford then put the light blues into the lead.

Sampford soon scored again to put his side into a commanding advantage with just under three minutes to go until the second break.

Just into the third period, the man wearing the number 60 jersey celebrated a hat-trick, assisted by teammate Cope.

The Royal Navy managed to wrestle back some momentum, not only aided by a disallowed RAF goal, but also with Crane scoring his second.

Captain Crane then became the second player to record a hat-trick on the ice on the night, bringing the score back to 4-3 with under five minutes to go.

But it was the RAF who came away with the key win to set up a clash with the Army on Thursday – Race sealed the deal at the end of a pulsating game to kick off this year's Inter Service ice hockey.