Storm thunder into semis

Cardarelli scored a hat-trick for Manchester

By BBC Sport Online's Stuart Hughes

Manchester Storm booked a place in the play-off semi finals in the most dramatic fashion on Sunday evening.

They hammered luckless Bracknell Bees 8-2, squeezing out Superleague champions Belfast Giants on goal difference.

Dan Preston, Joe Cardarelli and Mike Morin blasted Storm into a 3-0 lead in the first period.

Within six minutes of the restart Daryl Lipsey's side - who ended the regular season in last place - had opened up a massive 6-0 lead after strikes from Ivan Matulik (powerplay), Russ Romaniuk and Cardarelli.

Bracknell - beaten 4-0 by Sheffield Steelers on Saturday - finally found a way past Stevie Lyle at 42:28 as Doug Stienstra scored his first and last goal of this year's post-season campaign.

However, the goal was soon cancelled out as Joe Cardarelli hit his hat-trick.

London victory

Ryan Moynihan then added a second for the Berkshire franchise in the 51st minute before Mark Bultje rounded off an amazing night for Manchester, who had not won at Amen Corner for more than three years.

Belfast Giants were beaten 4-2 by London Knights at Docklands. Mark Kolesar put London ahead on the powerplay at 7:57.

Sean Berens equalised two minutes later. Knights retook the lead through Nate Leslie early in the second. Berens, however, was on hand to pull Belfast level again with just over a minute left in the period.

Vezio Sacratini (powerplay) and Kim Ahlroos turned the game London's way and as the game concluded Belfast's frustrations finally boiled over.

Paxton Schulte was handed a gross misconduct penalty after a disagreement with referee Simon Kirkham.

Giants coach Dave Whistle waded in and had to be pulled away from the referee as Belfast's season's ended on a sour note.

Ayr Scottish Eagles warmed up for their semi-final game next Saturday by beating Sheffield Steelers 4-2.

Cam Bristow equalled for Ayr 36 seconds after Brent Bobyck's 18th minute opener.

Rick Brebant restored Sheffield's lead in the second period, only for it to be snatched away by Phil Crowe just under three minutes into the final session.

Shawn Byram scored short-handed to give Ayr the lead for the first time with 15 minutes left. Dody Wood sealed the win with an empty net goal 18 seconds from time after Steelers had pulled netminder Ryan Bach.

Play-off semi-finals National Ice Centre Nottingham, Saturday March 30
2.30pm: Ayr Scottish Eagles Vs Manchester Storm
6.30pm: Sheffield Steelers Vs London Knights

Superleague Play-offs 2002
Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Ayr Scottish Eagles	6	5	1	0	22	13	11
Sheffield Steelers	6	4	1	1	15	8	9
London Knights	6	4	0	2	17	15	8
Manchester Storm	6	2	1	3	24	21	5
Belfast Giants	6	2	1	3	21	19	5
Nottingham Panthers	6	1	2	3	13	20	4
Bracknell Bees	6	0	0	6	10	26	0