SHEFFIELD SCIMITARS V BILLINGHAM EAGLES
ENHL NORTH
19 TH. NOVEMBER 2000
Sunday 19th November 2000 put the Eagles on the road to the Sheffield Scimitars, yet again it was a depleted side that travelled on the Billingham coach. Without influential captain Paul Windridge (injured), Tom Brown ( injured), Stephen Wallace (injured), Richie Thornton (injured) Adam Flett (working), Gary Dowd (?), a last minute call had to be made to Ian Richardson to persuade him out of his bed (.....Flu....) and on to the coach it was again up to the younger element of the Eagles squad to take to the road.
A return to Sheffield for Eagles Player/coach Andre Malo, whose popularity was evident by the number of Malo tops in evidence from his time with the Steelers.
With the return game against the Scimitars only 2 weeks after the niggly home fixture it was likely that this would be a follow up to some of the antics displayed that night. The scimitars put up a full bench with Lee Mercer deciding to coach the bench ( a wise choice ). The Eagles starting line up consisted of Wes Fawthrop in goal, Scott Ward, Martin Lewis, Simon Hehir, David Flett and captain Brian Perry.
1st Period
The first opened in the same vain as the third had closed two weeks earlier when with a minute gone Eagles Gareth Crinnion picked up a 2 minute hooking penalty that was played off without loss. The Eagles found themselves in the driving seat when at 04:29 the Scimitars Paul Crockett collected a 2 minute unsportsman conduct penalty, under a minute into the power play saw the Eagles take advantage when captain Brian Perry scored unassisted at 5:15 to open the Eagles account for the night. Eagles found themselves short handed again at 06:23 when Phillip Pritchard collected a 2 minute interference penalty, the Sheffield power play lasted 23 seconds until Rob Fleming collected a 2 minute interference penalty. As the penalties flowed Eagles found themselves down to 3 men when Ian Richardson collected a 2 minute slashing penalty. With the Scimitars returning to full strength at 07:46 giving them a power play the Eagles penalty killing unit added insult to injury scoring short handed at 07:50 when Simon Hehir hit home assisted by Andre Malo and Martin Lewis. The Eagles went a man down at 10:42 when Martin Lewis collected a 2 minute tripping penalty, again it was played off without loss, the remainder of the first consisted of both teams trading penalties against each other until at 18:27 Sheffields Gavin Farrand applied a butt end to the face of Andre Malo in a tangle that saw Andre falling backwards onto Farrand, referee Chidley awarded Farrand a five plus game for his trouble.
2nd Period
Only just over a minute into the second saw Eagles Scott Ward collect a 2 minute elbows call, just over 30 seconds later saw Ian Richardson collect a 2 minute interference call, Eagles again found themselves 2 men down and again the penalty killing unit produced the goods when Martin Lewis scored a short handed goal assisted by Simon Hehir at 22:31 to give the Eagles their third unanswered goal of the night. Four minutes later Eagles again found themselves in penalty trouble with Tom Griffiths collecting a 2 minute hooking penalty - again this was played off without loss. Things were evened up 3 minutes later when Sheffields Rob Flemming also collected a 2 minute hooking call, at 30:06 with the power play advantage Martin Lewis netted his second of the night assisted by Martin Lewis and Ian Richardson to make it Eagles 4 : Scimitars 0. Sheffield kept clocking up the penalties and spent a six minute period short handed as Crockett, Goodman and Ashton each picked up 2 minute tripping penalties ( Goodman 2+2). During the resulting power play the Eagles took advantage to advance the scoring, Ian Richardson on his return to the ice after a knee to his leg put his name on the Eagles fifth goal assisted by Andre Malo and David Flett at 34:04. Pushing the Eagles beyond reproach Brian Perry netted his second unassisted goal for the evening at 36:21. Billingham again found themselves a man down at 38:38 when Scott Ward collected a 2 minute boarding call, yet again the penalty calls were not in short supply as Sheffields James Goodman picked up a 2 minute roughing call, coincidental to the same call on Eagles Ian Richardson at 39:17. As the hooter sounded the Eagles closed the second 6 nil ahead with the shut out looking good yet again, Martin Lewis picked up a 2 minute cross checking penalty timed at 40:00.
3rd Period
As the third opened something strange occurred a five minute period of play without a penalty call, Eagles changed net minder from Fawtrhop to Hall. The Eagles again scored short handed just over a minute into the third when Andy Fletcher hit his first for the night assisted by Scott Ward and David Flett. Just over 2 minutes later Fletch again got his name on the score sheet as he hit his second for the night and the Eagles first even handed goal of the night assisted by Andre Malo and David Flett. Things were again starting to boil over when at 45:15 Scimitars Johnny Woolhouse collected a 2 minute roughing call. Then at 46:33 a fight that had been brewing all game came to the surface as Eagles Simon Hehir and Scimitars James Goodman resorted to fists to settle their differences ( Hehir - 5 for fighting + Match - Goodman - 5 minutes roughing + Game ). The atmosphere turned hostile with a few lunatics from the Sheffield crowd approaching the Eagles bench to verbalise the Eagles players and in particular the departing Simon Hehir. At 47:39 the Eagles turned up the gas as Tom Griffiths found the spot assisted by captain Brian Perry and Ian Richardson. As the goal was awarded Eagles Phillip Pritchard was called for a 2 minute cross check penalty also timed at 47:39. Three minutes later Tom Griffiths found himself on the score sheet for the second time of the night when he made it Eagles 10 :Scimitars 0. At 51:03 there was another outburst of fisiti cuffs as Scimitars Clifford and Eagles Gareth Crinnion squared up. ( Crinnion Roughing 5 + game , Clifford Fighting 5 + Match). With the game continuing in the same in the same manner it was again penalty time at 55:04 when Eagles Phillip Pritchard was called for a 2 minute holding penalty-again played off without loss. Thirty seconds later Scimitars Carl Ashton collected a 2 minute interference call. Eagles Brian Perry collected a 2 minute tripping penalty at 56:43. The icing on the cake came for the Eagles when Andy Fletcher sealed his hat trick for the night at 59:03. Final score Billingham Eagles 11: Sheffield Scimitars 0.
With Sheffield having had 3 players thrown out of the game and the Eagles 2 this one was going to be remembered for the wrong reasons !!
David Flett coolected Man of the match for the Eagles.
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| SHEFFIELD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| BILLINGHAM | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
PENALTIES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| SHEFFIELD | 33 | 12 | 54 | 99 |
| BILLINGHAM | 12 | 12 | 56 | 80 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| SHEFFIELD | 20 | 17 | 27 | 64 |
| BILLINGHAM | 5 | 10 | 11 | 26 |