PAISLEY Pirates received a Christmas boost by securing second spot in

ice hockey's Division 1 after coming from behind to beat Dumfries

Vikings. The Lagoon-based club, in only their second season in the

division, maintained their perfect home record this term in posting

their seventeenth win in 25 starts.

Pirates are now just one point adrift of pacesetters Telford Tigers,

who have three games in hand over the Scots. Tigers had a 7-6 home win

over Blackburn Hawks.

Paisley were hit by a first-period surge from Vikings, who are

third-bottom of the table. An early Vas Vasilenko strike was countered

by Pirates' defenceman Colin McHaffie, but the home fans were stunned as

the south of Scotland club hit three goals in four minutes, two from

Mike Spera and the other from captain Bobby Haig, to lead 4-1.

Paisley responded with two goals in a minute from Kenny Redmond and

Paul Shea to go in 4-3 behind at the first break, and they clicked into

top gear in the second and third, shutting out Vikings and hammering

them with seven goals.

Redmond went on to claim three other strikes with captain Mike

Bettens, Dean Smith, John Downes, and Mike Mowbray adding to the club's

tally as they cruised home. Results:

Division 1 -- Humberside 6, Sheffield 6. Paisley 10, Dumfries 4;

Telford 7, Blackburn 6.