ADAM BONNEVELD gets a quick hop on the puck in WOAA Senior Mens hockey action against Durham on Saturday. Despite a strong outing by the Muskies, a hot goalie for the Thundercats kept the Shelburne snipers at bay on the way to a 4-3 win for Durham. Photo/MIKE MALONEY The effort was there but the end result wasn't what the team had in mind when the Shelburne Muskies dropped a 4-3 decision to the Durham Thundercats at the CDRC on Saturday night.

In the second game between these two clubs this season, it was Shelburne that was first to the scoreboard. With Durham on the power play, veteran defenseman Paul Hartley set up Chris Greer to give the Fish an early 1-0 lead.

Durham would score one of their own 10 minutes later to send the two teams tied at one going into the second period.

Just over 5 minutes into the mid frame, Tom Viola cranked a shot from the blueline which eluded Durham cager Troy Loucks low on the glove side to restore the lead for Shelburne.

Despite constant pressure from the Muskie offense, Loucks played a huge game for Durham, turning aside a number of shots that would have been certain goals any other night.

Late in the second, the Cats would catch a lucky break in the Shelburne end after Muskie goalie Rob Senay and one of his own players managed to get tangled up on a seemingly harmless clearing pass allowing Durham to again tie the game, this time at 22.

Off the top of the third, Ed O'Toole, Mike Sikora and Andy Dudan team up to again to give Shelburne a one goal lead.

Not rolling over, Durham turned up the heat from there on, tying the score up at 3-3 minutes later followed with what would prove to be the game winner, a power play marker with 14:55 left to play.

Loucks again turned aside each and every Muskie shot from there on and when the buzzer sounded to end the game, it was Durham skating home with the two points for the 4-3 win.

Sunday afternoon, the team took the chance to rest a few of the walking wounded and regroup, dropping Drayton 14-4.

With Chris Pomeroy getting a chance for his first start of the season in net for Shelburne, the Muskies were lead by hat tricks from Sheldon Friske and Greer for the win.

Play resumes on Friday for the Muskies when they travel to Palmerston to take on the 81's then on Saturday night, Hensall will be in to the CDRC for an 8 p.m. game against the Fish.