NIHL Weekend Action

Stars outshine Sharks as Solway defeated

Solway Sharks    3

Billingham Stars 5

Despite playing host to Billingham Stars this evening at the Dumfries Ice Bowl, Sharks took no advantage from playing in front of their home crowd and, instead, it was the visitors who came out on top with a composed win to recover from last weekend’s home defeat to Blackburn.

With less than two minutes on the clock, Stars caused immediate damage in front of goal as forward Callum Davies opened the scoring, allowing the Stars to dominate whilst a stunned Sharks came to terms with going a goal down in the early stages of the game.

Almost halfway into the first period, this lead was doubled by Michael Elder, prompting a change of tactics from Sharks Player Ross Murray who decided to heat things up with some disruptive challenges. Though a few of the Stars reacted to Murray’s provocation, this became little more than handbags which, in the end, did not develop any further as the first period progressed.

As both teams filed back onto the ice for the middle stanza of the game, the score line remained 2-0 and was only added to in the thirtieth minute of play by surprise scorer Scott Ward who, last season, only managed to score twice in twenty two games.

By this stage of the encounter, the Sharks knew they had to turn things around or face losing two points without giving the game their best. And turn things around they did, scoring two goals in the space of fifteen seconds when Joe Coulter’s effort was quickly followed up by a second from captain, Struan Tonnar.  Gameplay rapidly changed from then on with an end to end battle for possession before the second period came to a close.

With everything still to play for in the final third, the two sides had no sooner faced off from centre ice than the puck was in the back of the net again, this time Stars winger Chris Sykes making it 4-2 to the visitors before getting his second of the game just over a minute later. At 5-2 down there was no way back for the Sharks and a power play goal from import Juraj Senko was the only consolation as the clock ticked away the dying seconds of the game. 

Billingham’s Terry Ward will be pleased that the pressure is now off the Stars as they showed that they were capable of scoring goals to leave Dumfries with two points and a deserved away win which can only boost their confidence as they face Sheffield Spartans at home next Sunday. In contrast, Solway have failed to take any points from their first two fixtures and their coach Martin Grubb will now look to help his team regroup before they go into their game against Sheffield Senators next weekend. In spite of their lack of points on the NIHL league table, Solway should be reassured that they have crafted seven goals in two games and, as their season develops and their lines begin to gel, it should not be too long before they bounce back to winning ways.

Warriors battle Barons  to triumph on the road

Solihull Barons    2

Whitley Warriors  6

Whitley Warriors made the trip to Hobs Moat Road, knowing that they were by no means in for an easy contest against Solihull Barons who have proved themselves to be tough competition in the past. The Barons did not disappoint, holding their visitors to a goalless first period in which play was energetic but largely uncontrolled, though Whitley enforcer Andre Payette resisted an opportunity to drop the gloves with Perry Doyle in the early stages of the game. On five occasions Whitley found themselves on the penalty kill with netminder Richie Lawson making some solid saves to earn a deserved man of the match. The Warriors also attempted to create a few chances of their own but there was little room for flowing hockey and the teams filed in at the break with nothing to separate them.

The sides returned and Watson made it 1-0 with just under twenty two minutes played but it was not long before Solihull found a reply through experienced EPL and Elite League forward Thomas Soar. Less than five minutes later, Harry Harley was assisted by player/coach David Longstaff and fellow goal scorer Callum Watson to find the back of the net. This was quickly added to by youngster Callum Queenan, with another assist from Longstaff and captain Jamie Tinsley.

With a score line of 3-1, the teams took to the ice for one final time but, any hopes of the home side finding a way back were dashed after only twenty one seconds into the third period as Tinsley lit the lamp himself this time as Queenan returned the favour. Just six minutes later and the Barons found themselves under pressure again, this time the netminder bundling Joe Stamp's speculative shot into his own net.

However, the Barons showed increased determination though they were on the trailing by 5-1 and began to create some forward play, allowing Phil Knight to sneak a second goal in front of Solihull’s home crowd. Whitley’s work was not yet finished though as hard-working Queenan skated past several Barons’ players to shoot an unassisted effort into the opposition goal.

If goals were not enough, the game certainly packed a punch in its latter stages with three fights in the space of two minutes. The highly anticipated contest between Andre Payette and Perry Doyle took place around the fifty eight minute mark and, though much speculated about before the face off, it failed to live up to fans’ expectations with both players appearing tired at this late stage of the game. 

This was rapidly followed up by a second battle between Callum Watson and Rob Ely which the Warrior clearly won. Not one to miss out, Whitley forward Jordan Barnes decided to take on Barons’ player Dave Rogers in a scrap which only lasted a matter of seconds but he also undoubtedly won, as portrayed by the picture, right.

Whitley will now look forward to next weekend’s double header, first making the long journey down to Telford to play the newly promoted Tigers before clashing with Solihull Barons at home on Sunday 20^th September. Experienced player/coach David Longstaff will no doubt be happy with his team’s performance last night. To continue their positive start to the season, the Warriors will feel that they need to go into those games with as much determination and fortitude as they have shown in their first two fixtures this season. Solihull, on the other hand, will feature in only the single encounter against Whitley Warriors and will hope to take their revenge at Hillheads. Player/coach Perry Doyle will not be too worried that his side have lost their first home game of the season as there is plenty of scope for improvement and he must feel that his side can cause an upset in the Moralee Conference as they have done in the past.