WHITLEY WARRIORS V BILLINGHAM EAGLES
ENHL NORTH PLAY OFF GAME
1st April 2001
Sunday 1st April put the Eagles on the road against local rivals the Whitley Warriors, With the Eagles at the top of the Northern play off league tonight task was to be an exercise of containment, the Warriors and the Eagles were fighting it out for first place in the group. A warriors win tonight would put them on eight points with the Eagles so goal difference was likely to be the decider in an anticipated revenge following Eagles 6-2 decimation of the Warriors at the Billingham Forum. Eagles were without Tom Griffiths, Stephen Wallace and Ritchie Thornton who were tied with international games, Gary Dowd sidelined through work commitments. Warriors themselves were without import Freddie Jonsson and youngsters Cully and Baxter also answering international calls
1st Period
The first opened with only 11 seconds gone when the the Billingham goal moved off its anchors before a Whitley shot found the back of the net, Referee Litchfeild waived the goal off.Whitley commenced in their familiar style when at 2:39 Bobby Bradley collected a 2 minute interference penalty.Then after a goal mouth altercation was settled Darren Taylor raced in to goon it up with Andre Malo, with both Taylor and Bradley sitting the Warriors faced the Eagles 5 on 3. As the powerplay got under way a nice drop pass from Paul Windridge to Andy Fletcher, saw Anthony Markham duck for the second time in the game as Fletch let a blistering slap shot fly, however the Warrioers played off the penalty without loss. Andrew Carter took a 2 minute sit for kneeing at 10:09. Again the Warriors played the penalty off without loss. The Warriors opened their account when Darren Taylor fired home hard and low at 13:34. Warriors again found themselves on the end of a penalty call at 17:15 when Brian Dunne was called for a 2 minute charging penalty. At 18:20 Paul Windridge removed Simon Leachs stick from his neck having being swung round by it, Warriors must have felt they had a charter to injure by the lack of response from Referee Lichfield who seemed very reluctant to call the Warriors for all their sticking antics. A tight first period that had seen the Eagles resist the natural urge to retaliate against the Warriors usual tricks, it was obvious the Warriors hoped to take a Billingham defence man out of the game.The first closed Whitley Warrios 1: Billingham Eagles 0.
2nd Period
With linesman within earshot Martin Lewis was accused and called for a 10 minute bench penalty for abuse of an official. At 2629 Gareth Crinnion was unlucky not to get his name on the scorers sheet when a well taken slap shot was blocked by Anthony Markham. Ten minutes later saw the Eagles hit their first when Andrew Thornton collected a rebound and then found the marker to level things at one goal each. At 30 minutes Simon Burns was playing a key role in limiting the Wariiors offensive moves untill at 31:59 Simon Leach collected a Darren Taylor rebound to tap home and put the Warriors ahead.Warriors Lonsdale collected a 2 + 10 for cross checking from behind, Scott Ward was stretchered off. Then following a stick to the ribs that doubled up Andy Fletcher Andy Carter found himself skating onto Simon burns, Carter applied the finiish to give the Warriors a comfort goal. Eagles Gareth Crinnion and Warriors Andy Carter both collected 2 minute co-incedental penaltys at 36:46, Eagles had a 5 on 4 advantage.As the second came to an end Andy Fletcher recieved a cross check from behind after the whistle from Warriarse Wayne Dunn, as the officials dealt with this the ever mature and proffesional Simon Leach accomponied by team goon and heavy man Darren Taylor aproached Simon Burns and issued threats and an invitation to brawl, the ever chilled Burnsy hung one arm other the bar leant back and laughed. As Andy Fletcher went for treatment with a bleeding nose the Eagles responded to the Warriors antics as Simon Hehir flicked the puck forward to Gareth Crinnion who went one on one with Anthony Markham lifting the puck over Markham as he commited himself low. The second closed Whitley Warriors 3 - Billingham Eagles 2.
3rd Period
The third opened and Andy Fletcher failed to turn out for the third due to the breathing problems his nose injury was causing, Simon Burns made way to Wes Fawthrop. The 45th minute saw Scott Ward called for a 10 minute mis- conduct call when he hit the plexy with his stick after taking yet another cross check. With the Eagles making the play it became apparent that the northern runners up the Warriors were not going to push forward and had a revenge victory in mind as opposed to trying to reduce Billinghams greater goal difference and perhaps earn an easier semi final against the southern runners up.In the 50th minute, Spike took another stick to the throat, some good saves from Wes Fawthrop. Then the stretcher made another un-welcome return to the ice this time to recover Gareth Crinnion who looked to be in agony following recent knee problems. The Warriors gave up to very late penaltys with both Bucas and Carter sitting, the latter for cross-checking, with the Eagles in a 5 on 3 power play the fact that Wes was not pulled backed up the fact that the Eagles were pleased with the job they had done in restricting Whitleys goal difference to 1 goal.
A superb performance from the Billingham youngsters who bore the brunt of the Warrirs style of play.
For a large part of the game I thought we were playing the 2 official system as referee Lichfield did not want to join in, apart from the numerous chin wags with any passing Warriors player with a whinge on any subject, why do we have captains and assistant captains if the officials allow themselves to be drawn into debate with any one.
My opinion of Whitley hockey was changed tonight, I had always thought that the Warriors played a physical style, I am afraid that putting the lumber into someones back or ribs or neck or chin is not physical hockey, just dirty hockey.
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| WHITLEY | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| BILLINGHAM | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
PENALTIES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| WHITLEY | 8 | 16 | 4 | 28 |
| BILLINGHAM | 0 | 12 | 10 | 22 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
|
WHITLEY |
10 | 5 | 9 | 24 |
| BILLINGHAM | 4 | 5 | 6 | 15 |
HOME PLAYER STATS