IF it's close contests you're after, look no further than Connah's Quay Cobras!

Following on from their narrowest of losses to Newcastle Predators, the Cobras were edged out 6-5 in their challenge match versus Shropshire Huskies.

Connah’s Quay put in a battling performance and it finished up 5-5 in normal time, before Cobras lost out on a penalty shootout for the second match running.

The Cobras opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a goal from Martin Rybka, but the visitors hit back to take a 2-1 lead into the first period break.

Shropshire further extended their lead with the only goal in a tight second period, on 35 minutes, and then went 4-1 ahead with another strike three minutes into the third period.

This seemed to gee-up the Cobras and two unanswered goals quickly followed from Rybka to complete his hat-trick, which dragged the home side back to within one goal on the Huskies.

The fightback was completed when a goal from Mike Filek drew the sides level with 10 minutes left.

Connah’s Quay edged back into the lead when Brad Commins fired in with just two-and-a-half minutes left on the clock, but the Cobras were denied a hard-earned victory by a late goal from the Huskies, which tied the score at 5-5.

A penalty shootout was then held to decide an overall winner and this went the way of the Huskies 2-1.

A group of visitors from the charity Conwy Connect were VIP guests at the game.

The charity helps promote the rights of people with a learning disability living in North Wales and they have a special Sing and Sign Choir which incorporates Makaton signing language into their musical performances.

In the run up to the game, the Cobras players learned some basic Makaton signs and worked with the charity to produce a joint music video performing the Guns N' Roses song “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, which was then played in public for the first time on the big screen at the ice rink during the match.

Cobras are next in action on Sunday when they take on rink-rivals Flintshire Phantoms in the Summer Classic Cup at Deeside Leisure Centre.

Face-off is at 8.30pm and admission is free for all spectators.