BILLINGHAM EAGLES v BRADFORD BULLDOGS
ENGLISH CUP GAME
3rd November 2001
The Eagles welcomed the players, officials and supporters of the Bradford Bulldogs. The Eagles were icing only their second home game this Season and would be looking to claim both points and improve on the last home result.
Making a welcome return to the Forum was ex Eagles net minder Wes Fawthrop (20) backing up Bradfords Jonny Muff.
1st Period
The game started with the Eagles looking to score, with only five minutes gone youngster Paul Dean was very unlucky when an attempted wrap around failed to cross the line and glided through the crease.
However it was to be the visitors who were to open the scoreing, when a 2 on 1 breakaway resulted in Craig Dyson hitting home assisted by Paul Charles.
As play resumed the Eagles found themselves short handed as Paul Windridge collected a 2 minute delay the game penalty. The Eagles found themselves down to 3 players under a minute later when Martin Lewis was called for a 2 minute roughing penalty. The Bulldogs punished the Eagles at 10:34 when Neil Kilner scored an unassisted power play goal at 10:34.
Following a badly timed check Andy Fletcher took a 2 minute sit for tripping at 10:21 however the delayed penalty could not commence until 10:34, the penalty was played off .
Bradfords Andy Brown collected a 2 minute penalty for slashing at 14:54, however Bradford played this off without loss.
Eagles pushed forward looking for an opening goal, Martin Lewis came closest to providing it when a well taken shot went inches wide in the 18th minute, however the Bulldogs kept the Eagles at bay and the first closed. Billingham 0 : Bradford 2.
2nd Period
The second opened with Bradford going short handed 15 seconds in to the period
when Neil Kilner picked up a 2 minute hooking penalty.
The Eagles responded by setting up camp in the Bulldogs zone, numerous shots and rushes were blocked until at 21:16 Eagles Paul Harland struck assisted by David Thomas.
Under a minute later and with play returned to 5 on 5 the Eagles drew the game level when Martin Lewis and John Armstrong combined to create a well set up goal. The Eagles third goal within a four minute period of play came at 23:43 when some nice skating from Scott Ward resulted in him entering and going through the Bradford zone and defence then turning behind the Bradford goal line and releasing a nice pass back into the slot that was put away by Craig Hill with a second assist going to Gareth Crinnion.
Not going to give up Bradford drew the game level under a minute later when a simple well set up goal was scored by Gavin Penn with assists to Andy Brown and Craig Dyson.
The Bulldogs collected a 2 minute tripping penalty at 29:02 that they played off without loss. Then the Eagles then collected a 2 minute cross check penalty played off without loss.
The Eagles were unlucky when the Bulldogs again took the lead with an even handed goal that appeared to take a deflection from an Eagles tip, scored by Craig Dyson at 31:52 assisted by Simon Lewis.
Bulldogs next found themselves shorthanded at 33:34 when Captain Andy Brown sat for a 2 minute tripping call. As the power play took shape the Eagles punished the Bulldogs at 35:05 when Andrew Payne levelled the game at 4 each Assisted by John Armstrong. The Eagles were looking up for the game as the period closed they took control closing with an even handed goal scored by Scott Ward assisted by David Thomas and Paul Windridge. The second closed Billingham 5 : Bradford 4.
3rd Period
The third opened with the Eagles resuming control, the resulting 2 goals in the first minute of the period now put a cushion between them and the visitors. The sixth goal was scored by Andy Fletcher assited by Paul Windridge at 40:29 then the Eagles seventh came 33 seconds later at 40:52 when Paul Harland netted his second of the night assisted by Andy Fletcher and Paul Windridge.
At 42:38 the Eagles found themselves short handed when John Armstrong took a 2 minute sit for high sticking. undaunted by being short handed the Eagles piled on the pressure and a nice long centre ice pass found Andy Fletcher who went in 1 on 1 with Jonny Muff and beat him high assist to Paul Windridge. Thirty two seconds later the roles were reversed when Paul Windridge nipped in to bury an Andy Fletcher rebound with a second assist to John Armstrong to give the Eagles a five goal lead.
Bradford were quick to respond with a power play goal less than forty seconds later whan Gavin Penn netted assisted by Neil Kilner and Craig Dyson.
Eagles again found themselves short handed at 46:42 when Martin Lewis was called for a 2 minute boarding penalty, the Bulldogs converted the penalty and brought the score to Eagles 9 , Bulldogs 6.
Billingham responded quickly and Martin Lewis added his second for the night with assist to John Armstrong.
The Bulldogs changed keepers at 50:13 and Wes Fawthrop took up position between the Bradford pipes. A minute later with the shots raining on the cold keeper the Eagles netted goal No 11 of the night when Andy Fletcher secured his hattrick assisted by Paul Windridge. Twenty three seconds later Goal No 12 for the Eagles was scored at 51:27 when Martin Lewis bagged his hat trick assisted by David Flett and John Armstrong.
At 54:28 Bradford got a consolation goal when Kyle Botterill scored assited by Paul Charles and Gavin Penn. Eagles goal No 13 scored by Paul Windridge assisted by Paul Harland at 55:52.
The Eagles were soaring as Goal No 14 provided Martin Lewis with his fourth of the night and John Armstrong with his fifth assist at 57:10.
Bradford were awarded a penalty shot at 58:40 when Eagles net minder Michael Snook killed the puck behind the goal line without any part of his body or equipment being in his crease, similar to a delaying the game call . After what seemed like a lot of debate re who was going to take the penalty Craig Dyson skated on to Snook, who narrowed the angle and stood up well to deny the goal.
The game closed Billingham Eagles 14 : Bradford Bulldogs 7.
A good performance that indicates things
are starting to gel, and the confidence is rising. Also respect to Bradford
who stayed with the Eagles well into the game taking into account their short
bench.
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 0 | 5 | 9 | 14 |
| BRADFORD | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
PENALTIES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 6 | 4 | 6 | 16 |
| BRADFORD | 2 | 6 | 2 | 10 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| SNOOK | 8 | 11 | 12 | 31 |
| MUFF | 19 | 20 | 12 | 51 |
| FAWTHROP | - | - | 9 | 9 |
HOME STATS PLAYER