BILLINGHAM EAGLES V WHITLEY WARRIORS
ENHL CUP GAME
10th February 2001
Saturday 10th February saw the Billingham Eagles welcome the players, officials and fans of the Whitley Warriors. With a previous decision to play the game against Sunderland earlier this season for double points (league and cup ) the resulting 6 - 6 draw combined with a 7 - 3 defeat at the hands of the Warriors away at Hillheads on 5th November last year puts qualifying beyond the control of the Eagles, as a Sunderland win over the Warriors would throw the Eagles a cup life line. Eagles were without youngsters Stephen Wallace, Gareth Crinnion , Scott Ward and Tom Griffiths who were with the GB U-18 squad. Warriors stalwart Simon Leach was sitting this one out.
1st Period
The first opened with what would become a talking point of the match, dubious refereeing , this call on Ian Richardson at 29 seconds for charging put the Eagles short handed, with some solid looking defending the penalty without loss. With the penalty played off, four minutes later Winny again found himself on the wrong side of a call for slashing at 6:03 also co incidental to Warriors Karl Culley for interference, just over a minute later saw Brian Perry being called for a tripping penalty. The Warriors were the first to open the scoring with an equal handed unassisted goal from Karl Culley. Eagles worked hard and were rewarded with their opening goalat 15:20 scored by Simon Hehir with assists to Martin Lewis and Gary Dowd. Eagles second came via a Brian Perry back hand shot that beat Markham at 19:13 with no assist, this goal was Brians 250th point for the Eagles, 9 seconds later saw the Eagles stretch their lead when a fast skating Paul Windridge skated into the Whitley zone and released a powerful and accurate shot that went through the legs of Anthony Markham. The first closed Eagles 3: Warriors 1
2nd Period
In the first minute of the second as the first minute of the first Ian Richardson again found himself on the wrong side of ref Tom Knight as he collected a 2 minute penalty. Twenty seconds into the powerplay the Warriors converted with a goal from Andrew Carter unassisted. At this break in play Eagles player / coach Andre Malo took the opportunity to discuss an earlier hooking/ high stick incident that saw a stick blade almost gouge Andres eye out with referee Knight, Andre was waved away and awarded a 2+ 10 for unsportsman like conduct, the ref seemed to be losing the plot. Gary Dowd was unfortunate to find himself involved in the play at the time he was attempting to return Simon Burns stick back to him, unluckily Dowdy took control of the puck whilst carrying Burners stick resulting in a 2 minute sit for illegal equipment .At 23:09 the Warriors scored their second power play goal of the night , scored by Wayne Dunne assisted by Stephen Winn , there was a resulting skirmish that at some point involved almost all on the ice, after pulling all apart and regaining some form of control the ref had the task of deciding the penalty's, Eagles Simon Burns collected a 5 plus game for roughing and Ian Richardson a 2 + 2 for roughing, Warriors Stephen Winn collected a gross penalty for travesty of the game, which is not a call I am familiar with but I was later informed is one of the strongest calls available to a ref. Warriors Andrew Clish collected a 2 + 2 for roughing. Burner and Stephen Winn both departed for an early shower. Wes Fawthrop took over in the pipes for the Eagles. At 29:56 the Warriors Paul Graham was called for a holding penalty and Eagles collected a coincidental penalty, David Flett hooking. Andre Malo returned to the game with vengeance at 33:09 and turned on a display that saw him skate the length of the ice, controlling his stick with one hand , using his free hand to remove the sticks of the Warriors as he made his smooth controlled path through them a slight pause in front of the Whitley net that saw him deke and draw back before releasing a well placed shot.....pure experience and class. At 37:25 the Warriors went short-handed when Wayne Dunn collected a 2 minute interference penalty. The second closed Eagles 5 , Warriors 3.
3rd Period
Eagles found themselves without Simon Hehir who had retired due to a shoulder injury. As the third opened the Warriors found themselves on the wrong side of the ref with Neil Bainbridge taking an interference call at 43:19. Karl Culley found himself sitting for 2 minutes at 47:04 for boarding. The main action in the early third seemed to be of the penalty kind when Eagles Martin Lewis found himself called for unsportsman like conduct. Eagles Andy Fletcher added to the Eagles haul when he connected with a Brian Perry pass and skated onto the Whitley net lifting the puck up into the roof of the net adding a stylish finish to his 150th Billingham goal, to make it Eagles 5 , Warriors 3. Another early shower loomed for Warriors captain Kevin Bucas when he started roughing Eagles Ian Richardson, match roughing penalty timed at 59:02. The final call of the game came at 59:36 when Warriors Andrew Carter was called for an interference penalty.
The game closed Eagles 5 : Warriors 3
Man of the match for the Eagles Wes Fawthrop
Man of the match for the Warriors Freddie Jonssen
* Apologies to Peter Winn, this report earlier stated he was called for a Travesty of the game offence, this was innaccurate as it was his brother Stephen.
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| WHITLEY | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
PENALTIES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 6 | 49 | 2 | 57 |
| WHITLEY | 2 | 33 | 31 | 66 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BURNS | 10 | 5 | - | 15 |
| FAWTHROP | - | 9 | 10 | 19 |
|
MARKHAM |
15 | 14 | 14 | 43 |
HOME PLAYER STATS