BILLINGHAM EAGLES V WHITLEY
WARRIORS
ED1 CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL 2000
14TH MAY 2000
Billingham Ice Hockey Club welcomed the fans players and officials of the Whitley Warriors for the second leg of the ED1 2000 Championship. Warriors brought with them a three goal cushion.The Eagles were going to have to battle hard to overcome the advantage the Warriors established at home on the 30th April.
1st Period
As the first started to boil a breakaway from Paul Windridge was thwarted by some Whitley holding, undeterred Paul Windridge released a shot that although saved by Markham resulted in a rebound that allowed the Eagles to set themselves up in the Whitley zone and turn on the pressure , as this pressure built up Whitleys Bobby Bradley picked up a 2 min interference penalty.Eagles were first to score when Brian Perry received the puck from the face off , spotted Tom Brown wide on the right, he made the pass and Tom obliged by hitting a one timer that burned into the Warriors net.Eagles wen tshort handed at 4:47 when Brian Perry was called for a 2 minute slashing penalty, the Eagles played off wtithout loss. Eagles got their second when Simon Hehir moved in to the centre of the Warriors zone and netted a Stephen Wallace pass.At 12:11 Whitley again went short handed as Simom Leech collected a 2 minute slashing penalty.Eagles failed to make any gain from the power play.Whitley opened their account at 18:17 when Simon Leech scored. The Warriors were on a roll and the game was tied 2 each when Simon Leech again netted assisted by Lee Baxter.
2nd Period
Three minutes into the second saw both teams go short handed when Whitley`s Andrew Clish ( x-check)and Eagles Simopn Hehir (slash) picked up 2 minute penaltys.All penaltys were played off. At the 30 minute mark Stephen Wallace found himself behind the Whitley net , an audacious attempt at a wrap around was only just thwarted by a defenders stick on the line. Billingham moved ahead when Tom Brown and Brian Perry combined with Paul Windridge and some good passing was hit home by Tom Brown to make it Eagles 3 Warriors 2. At 31:08 Martin Lewis proved the value of fore checking when he pressurised Whitleys last man into a mistake and stole the puck just inside the Whitley zone, with not much room left Martin did well to lift the puck over Markham in the Whitley nets. A powerfull check from Tom Brown opened a period of intense action in the Whitley zone, the Eagles started to play a physical game and the Warriors made their dislike known.33:50 saw the Warriors cut their defecit to one goal when Lee Baxter scored a power play goal. The Warriors again went short handed when Simon Leech sat for a 2 minute roughing penalty. Lee Baxter got his second for the night and tied things up at 35:12 following a lapse of concentration from the Billingham net minder when Adam Flett left his creas to clear a still puck fro mnear the boards unfortunatley Flettys clearance was intercepted by Baxter who fired home into the Eagles empty net. the third closed all level at 4 goals each.
3rd Period
One minute into the third saw Whitleys Andrew clish pick up a 2 minute holdig the stick call. Billingham ound the backof the net only to be denied by the Whitley pipes leaving their pegs just as the goal went in. Eagles set themselves up and looked to be enjoying passing the puck around as Tom Brown moved forward onto the Whitley net he collected a pass from Paul Windridge and fired home. Gary Dowd demonstrted a skill of his man to man marking as he marked Leechy out of the game in a style reminiscent of the time he was put on to Mike Blaisdell to close him down, this had the desired effect and Leech had to become more concerned with his shadow than his game.
Eagles went short handed when Tom Brown had to take a 2 minute sit for boarding. Simon Hehir broke away with determination at 51:51 and his determination resulted in the Eagles sixth goal. Whitley immediatley hit back with a goal from Stuart Lonsdale to make it 6 :5. With the clock at 55:25 the Warriors Stuart Lonsdale scored assisted by Kevin Bucas levelled the scores.Some intense preessure in the Whitley zone still yielded no goal however at 57:08 the Warriors collected another 2 minute penalty. In the last minute of the game we saw Simon Leech and Andrew Clish combine to score and take Warriors into the lead for the first time in the game. That was how the game closed with Warriors winning 7 : 6 on the night making the aggregate score 14:10.
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| WHITLEY | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 12 | 11 | 12 | 35 |
| WHITLEY | 10 | 14 | 13 | 37 |
PENALTYS
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| WHITLEY | 4 | 6 | 6 | 16 |
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