BILLINGHAM EAGLES V SHEFFIELD SCIMITARS
ENHL NORTH
28th October 2000
Saturday 28th October saw the Eagles playing hosts to the players and officials of Sheffield Scimitars. Sheffield although second from the bottom of the league had managed so far this season to keep their goal difference to a deficit of 3. With the influence of Andre Malo now becoming evident in numerous ways, the Eagles were putting together 3 very respectful lines and a fair share of ice time( and points ) for all.
1st Period
The first moments of the first period gave a good indication of the nature of the tactics of the Scimitars it became apparent that they were to be the first team to try and go at the Eagles in a physical / spoiling style this season.
12 seconds in to the game and Sheffields Lee Mercer collected a 2 minute interference penalty. With the Eagles settling into the game the Scimitars played the penalty off, as the Scimitars came back to full strength their game style or lack of it was having an effect on the penalties, with all penalties timed at 2:45 Eagles Scott Ward 2 + 2 (slashing + elbows), Andre Malo, 2 min (roughing), Scimitars Errand (roughing), Mercer (roughing). When the dust settled the game restarted and at 3:28 Paul Windridge opened the Eagles account with a power play goal when he connected with the rebound of Andy Fletchers shot and flicked a back hand shot over the shoulder of Brian Cox . The Scimitars went short handed again collecting a 2 minute interference penalty compounded by a 2 minute cross check penalty at 5 minutes. The resulting power play allowed captain Paul Windridge to hit his second for the night when some tight accurate passing allowed Paul to blast home a shot assisted by Tom Griffiths and Scott Ward. The game continued in the same niggly vain it had commenced with the Eagles collecting 8 minutes of penalties and the Scimitars 6 minutes in the next 10 minutes of " play ". At 12:27 Eagles Tom Brown got his first for the night when he applied the tip in to a blistering shot from the point by Eagles blue liner Ian Richardson with a second assist going to Simon Hehir. Tom got his second for the night when he took the Eagles unanswered tally to 4 assisted by Simon Hehir and Martin Lewis . At 17:54 the Eagles got their fifth when Andre Malo faked a shot , and slotted a pass to Stephen Wallace who fired into a gaping hole created by Scimitars net minder who was sprawled on the ice after committing himself to the shot he anticipated from Andre . With all penalties timed at 18:15 Eagles Brian Perry picked up a 2 minute Roughing call , Andre Malo a 2 minute interference call, Scimitars Lee Mercer a 2 minute roughing call and then to cap this episode Eagles Gary Dowd collected a 10 minute misconduct penalty. As play restarted Scimitars Dan Clark scored a power play goal assisted by Rob Flemming . The first closed Eagles 5 : Scimitars 1
2nd Period
The second opened with Eagles netting their sixth after 1 minute of even handed play it came when Martin Lewis placed a tight pass from behind the Scimitars net to allow Simon Hehir to Finnish with second assist to Tom Brown. Slightly over a minute later the silky skating and superb stick handling of Stephen Wallace were on display when sheer aptitude and attitude left the Sheffield defence gob smacked as he scored unassisted assisted at 22:14. While the Eagles celebrated young Scott Ward and Scimitars Neil Hardy had a party of their own result being a 2 minute roughing + 10 min misconduct each. The next four minutes of play was to prove very productive for the Eagles, at 24:23 Brian Perry netted goal No 8 for the Eagles assisted by Paul Winndridge and Graeme Harrison, just over a minute later Perry again hit home assisted by Paul Windridge and Andy Fletcher, then at 26:33 Stephen Wallace turned the screw on the Scimitars and took the Eagles into double figures assisted by Phillip Pritchard. At 28:52 Wesley Fawthrop took over the duties in the Eagles net. Then with 9 minutes on the clock the Sheffield net minder left the pipes and benched himself after lots of deliberation the ref gave the Sheffield side a break to provide their under 19 net minder with adequate throat guards as required by rules for under 19 net minders, the back up net minder was also under 19 and he was unable to produce effective safety equipment as stipulated for under 19s.
3rd Period
Play resumed after a break for resurfacing and the last 9 minutes of the second were added to the third. Unable to come up with the correct equipment for an under 19 net minder, Lee Mercer found himself between the pipes of the Grimsby net, a brave decision that provided the crowd with nearly as many laughs as his out field antics of the first period. Eagles got their 11th when Tom Brown fired home from an impossible angle at 31:08. The next goal, a hat trick goal for Brian Perry came when Brian collected deep in his own defensive zone skated through the Sheffield defence and fired past Mercer assisted by Andy Fletcher and Gary Dowd. At 33:25 Tom Brown started work on his second hat trick of the night when he scored No 13 for the Eagles assisted by Simon Hehir. Eagles Gary Dowd hit No 14 assisted by Paul Windridge and Andy Fletcher,expletives were exchanged as Eagles Gary Dowd fought his way towards stand in net minder Lee Mercer, who demonstrated considerable consistency and did his second perfect impression of a Turtle for the night and kissed the Billingham ice, Gary Dowd collected a 2 minute roughing penalty and and a 10 minute misconduct call, as this was his second of the night he also received a game penalty and retired for an early shower. With the result of the game beyond doubt and the driving hours of the Sheffield coach driver running out both coaches were in agreement and Eagles player/coach Andre Malo approached referee Steve Wardell and requested that the remainder of the game be played continuous clock, this was approved and the clock ran down with out stoppage. At 39:35 Tom Brown pushed the Eagles goal count to 15 assisted by Martin Lewis and Simon Hehir. The remainder of the game proved just as niggly with Scimitars picking up a 2 minute holding penalty at 40:30 then at 42:41 Scimitars James Goodman received a 5 + Game for cross checking from behind. At 49:44 Eagles Tom Brown sealed his second hat trick of the night assisted by Martin Lewis and Richie Thornton. Number 17 for the Eagles came at 54:53 when Tom Griffiths hit home assisted by Andy Fletcher and David (DJ) Flett to close the third Eagles 17 :Scimitars 1
As stated at the start of this report, the first team to mix it with Billingham, their disruptive style went a long way to highlight their lack of respect for the game and fellow players.
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 5 | 10 | 2 | 17 |
| SHEFFIELD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
PENALTIES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 28 | 24 | 2 | 54 |
| SHEFFIELD | 18 | 14 | 27 | 59 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
BILLINGHAM
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| FLETT | 12 | 4 | - | 16 |
| FAWTHROP | - | 2 | 10 | 12 |
SHEFFIELD
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| COX | 15 | 14 | - | 29 |
| MERCER | - | 10 | 11 | 21 |
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