BILLINGHAM EAGLES
V ALTRINCHAM ACES
ED1 NORTH
13 NOVEMBER 1999
Saturday 13th November saw the Eagles playing hosts to the Officials , players and fans of the Altrincham Aces. First impressions were that this would be a walkover with Altrincham only bringing enough players for one and a half lines. However first impressions can be deceptive.
1st Period
Eagles Tom Brown took an early penalty for elbows at 3:27.Altrincham power play was short lived when they were reduced to 4 men following a tripping call. 4:49 saw Brian Perry collect a 2 minute hooking penalty. At 5:38 Altrincham had play stopped to debate a disputed goal , the goal was not allowed.Eagles got off the mark at 5:55 with a short handed goal from Andy Fletcher assisted by Tom Brown and Ian Richardson. Eagles got their second of the night under 2 minutes later whenTom Brown collected a long pas from Andy Fletcher that allowed him behind the Altrincham last man and place it between the legs of Altrincham netminder Chris Main. The first closed Eagles 2 : Aces 0.
2nd Period
One minute and five secons intothe second period saw Eagles give themselves a good cushion with a third goal from Captain Paul Windridge assisted by Gary Dowd and Andy Fletcher. Altrinchams first goal was a breakaway goal scored scored one on one by Aces Simon. At 23:25 Gary Dowd was powering through the Aces defence when a trip caused the Aces to go short handed. It was not to be a long power play for the Eagles when Shaun Black collected a 2 + 2 high sticking penalty.With the play down to 4 on 4 Aces Ged Smith hit home at 24:21.A minute later now in a power play position Aces netted again to tie it at three goals each.Eagles hit theit fourth ,the strangest goal I have seen so far this season saw Martin Lewis shoot from behind the Aces goal line , the puck went from the bottom of the pipe rebounded off the netminders pad and into the goal , nice one Martin no doubt you " went for it ".Aces still had some steam left and they proved it at 31:35 when Adam Flett found himself facing three advancing Aces Simon Mills tied it at 4 each. Aces were handed another power play at 34:51 when Simon Burns sat for 2 minutes for hooking. Aces were unable to capitilise. Eagles finnished the second with a purple patch that netted them 2 goals within a minute .The first was scored when Gary Dowd launched an inch perfect ice long pass to put Tom Brown in the clear , Tom advanced on Chris Main in the Aces net , and placed it to the right of the diving Aces net minder. The second of the brace was scored at 39:12 when some nice work from Tom Brown and Paul Windridge allowed Andy Fletcher to slot home his second of the night. Yet another power play came the way of the Aces at 39:38 when Eagles Paul Windridge ccollected a 2 minute penalty for charging,The second closed Eagles 6 : Aces 4.
3rd Period
Into the third period at 44:05 Brian Perry scored assisted by Paul Windridge and Andy Fletcher.Aces were not out of the running when they got their fifth goal at 44:45. At 52:04 the never say die Aces clipped the wings of the Eagles once more as Simon Mills powered through the Eagles defence to collect his own rebound and score to reduce the defecit to 1 goal , yet again this short bench, restored their chances.Within 35 seconds the Eagles had picked up another insurance goal scored when Paul Windridge applied the tip to a scorching slapshot from points man Gary Dowd ( double assist Tom Brown ).At 56:07 Eagles Martin Lewis found himself in a good position in front of the Aces net, he took it round the keeper on his forehand and then flicked the puck onto his back hand and lifted a lovely back hand flick into the top corner, to make it Eagles 9 Aces 6.Again the Aces summoned some reserves of energy to score a power play goal at 59:18. With 27 seconds on the clock the Aces pulled their keeper, Eagles Shaun Black fired a shot from behind the Eagles goal line that drifted wide,the game ended Eagles 9 :Aces 7..
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 2 | 4 | 3 | 9 |
| ALTRINCHAM | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 11 | 20 | 10 | 41 |
| ALTRINCHAM | 10 | 9 | 16 | 35 |
PENALTIES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 4 | 8 | 6 | 18 |
| ALTRINCHAM | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8 |
ATTENDANCE 135
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