Please forgive the odd typo. My fingers are frozen solid.

The Calgary Storm treated an overchilled 1230 loyal fans to a well deserved victory in their first ever A-League home game.

The visiting Minnesota Thunder, no stranger to northern climes, could not use the cold weather as an excuse in this closely fought match.

The visitors came out rough and were rewarded in the 8th minute with a yellow card to midfielder Don Gramenz for a nasty chop on a Storm player.
Minnesota had the first good chance of the match when Mike Gentile touched a ball wide right of the Calgary net after connecting with a looping cross from the left side.

Three minutes later, Calgary would have their chance when Liam DeSilva found the ball at his feet after the the Thunder keeper, Joe Warren, and a defender collided and coughed up the ball. Unfortunately, DeSilva completely fanned on the shot and the opportunity went wanting.

Thirty minutes in, Minnesota demonstrated a well orchestrated set-piece off of a corner from the right side. Gentile sent a low screamer to the top of the box and Kyle Beckerman's blast was tipped over the bar by Calgary's surprise starting keeper, James Glasnovic.

Glasnovic had to sharp again, just five minutes later, when he managed to parry a close range shot from Amos McGee.

In the 37th minute, Warren had to be on his toes in the Minnesota net when one of the Colorado lenders, Seth Trembley, nearly put one into his own net.

But it was Glasnovic who would play a bigger role in the first half. 6 minutes from the halftime whistle, Glasnovic had to sprint from his line to beat an onrushing McGee to a telling through ball. The two collided, and McGee came out the worse for wear.
Just seconds later, Glasnovic produced a fine save at full stretch to cover the left side of the Calgary net.

As the second half began, Calgary appeared to be gaining some momentum, and just two minutes in, came close on a pinball gong show, where it seemed that every player on both teams managed to touch the ball in the Minnesota 18 yeard box.

In the 56th minute, Calgary's Mark Slade saw his tight angle blast sail across the crease. Two minutes later, Forward Chris Lemire seemed destined to score when he blocked a Warren clearing attempt, but his show floated achingly wide left of the Minnesota goal.

But Calgary would not be denied. Finally in the 68th minute, a long through ball from Eric Munoz was collected by Lemire at the right corner flag. His low cross was met by two Calgary players. Stefen Holdt missed on his attempt, but Calgary captain, Mark McKenna managed to slot the ball into the left corner of the Thunder net.

Calgary would not look back. Five minutes later, defender Mike Pavicic showed a surprising burst of speed and took over from a run started by McKenna. His blast from 18 yards out went off of Warren's shoulder and over the bar.

Minnesota were getting frustrated and substitute Mark Schulte was booked for an obvious dive.

Injury time would provide some anxious moments for both clubs. First, Chris Lemire latched onto a McKenna through ball at the six-yard box, but the ball took a bad hop and his shot sailed high into the stratosphere.

Finally, just seconds before the final whistle, Minnesota pushed all eleven men into the Calgary box for a desperation corner kick. The kick sailed over a floundering Glasnovic and hit the right post. The rebound came to the feet of the Minnesota keeper, but Warren's toe-poke sailed over the wide open net.

When the final whistle blew, Glasnovic was seen patting his saviour and new best friend, the post.

Lineups
Calgary: Glasnovic, DeSilva, Munoz, Pavicic, Heidler (Zuniga 82), Jesic (Chala 90), Ledgerwood, McKenna, Slade (Bosch 61), Holdt, Lemire

Minnesota: Warren, Clark (Meyongar), Otto, Gentile (Llamas), Trembley, McGee (Martins), Fenger (#18), Gramenz (Schulte), Beckerman, Gorez, Martins (are there two Martins? The gamesheet had him as #26 and #27 - there was a little, speedy guy with long hair #26, and a taller guy with long hair #27)

Cards:
Yellow
Minnesota:Gramenz, Schulte
Calgary: McKenna

Red - None

Attendance: 1230
Weather: Bloody cold