Elite Ice Hockey League 
BRAEHEAD CLAN 4
BELFAST GIANTS 5
CLAN came agonisingly close to defeating the title-challengers on Saturday,  only to ultimately fall to a late third period goal.
Ryan Finnerty's side had the Irishmen on the rack after taking a two-goal lead in a whirlwind start.
However the visitors ultimately underlined their championship credentials as they found a way to win.
But Clan can take many positives from their all-round play.
The home side got off to the perfect start at 1:20 when Mike Hammond surged from the blueline through the home defence before coolly knocking the puck into the net. The hosts were in dreamland just after the three-minute mark when Hammond and Alex Leavitt combined to set up Scott Pitt to blast home.
However at 3:59 Giants pulled within a goal when Michael Forney drilled the puck home.
It was all-square at 6:48 when the same player rifled a shot into the roof of the net.
Pitt had his fierce effort saved by visiting goalie Stephen Murphy at 10:31.
Seconds before the end of the first period Giants went ahead for the first time when Mark Garside netted.
Then at 23:44 it was level again when Hammond set up Pitt to net from the edge of the circle.
With home player Harry Quast in the sin-bin for holding, James Desmaris netted on the powerplay at 34:30 to put Giants in front.
Then at 46:36 Pitt found Hammond to slam home and restore parity in an enthralling encounter.
However at 55:14, Forney fired home amidst a goalmouth scramble to seal his hat-trick and victory for the visitors.