Solway’s
North Cup slump continues as Stars shoot to top of NLN table
Billingham Stars 3
Solway Sharks
2
With NIHL North Cup games
closely contested between rivals Billingham Stars and Solway Sharks, this clash
was always going to be a high tempo affair as the Dumfries outfit looked for
their first win in the competition whilst the Stars aimed for top spot. Billingham
started with a strong squad of seventeen players and selected Mark Watson for
netminding duties whereas the Sharks travelled with thirteen skaters, opting
for seventeen year old shot stopper Kyle Johnston between the pipes.
The opening period of
the game unfolding at an incredible rate, with just one stoppage in the first seven
minutes, both sides had equal opportunities to get ahead in a game of end to
end ice hockey. It was the Dumfries visitors who managed to take the lead
however, as referee Steven Wardell sin binned Stars’ Michael Bowman for delaying
the game. Taking advantage of the power play, Solway applied pressure to
Billingham’s defence, a pass from Slovakian import Martin Cingel finding captain
Struan Tonnar who fired the puck goalwards, Joe Coulter on hand for the tap-in.
With Watson facing twice as many shots as Solway’s Kyle Johnston by the end of
the first period, the Sharks filed from the ice with a single goal separating
them from the home side.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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The pace of the game unchanged
in the second stanza, the Stars’ attempts to draw level in the first few
minutes were hindered by a minor slashing call against Andy Finn which saw Solway awarded their second power play. Again,
the Sharks were quick to capitalise, scoring just sixteen seconds later through
defenceman Juraj Senko, some rapid linkup play between left winger Steven Moore
and forward Iain Bowie contributing to the goal. The score line 2-0, the Stars
had several attempts to get on the score sheet, Chris Sykes, Michael Elder and
Dennis Boström each appearing dangerous in front of goal but unable to find a
way past a seemingly unbeatable Johnston. Struggling to chip away at the two
goal deficit, events began to take their toll on the Stars. With play halted to
clear blood from the ice when youngster Duncan Speirs took a blow to the face, Billingham
began to play a more physical game so it was little surprise when Swedish
import Boström soon found himself on the wrong end of an interference penalty in
the closing stages of the period. As Boström remonstrated with Speirs, Moore
raced to the youngster’s side in support of his teammate, a clash only avoided
as officials separated players after the buzzer.
Determined to get back
into the game, Stars’ forward Sykes sniped the puck past netminder Johnston as
the home side ploughed into Solway’s defensive zone, player-assistant coach Bowman
and the hard-working Michael Elder with the assists. Less than six minutes
later, Bowie found himself punished for slashing, handing Billingham the power
play. Whilst the Stars could not find a way through Solway’s defence at first,
the home side were soon handed a second opportunity to equalise as Stuart
Andrews served two minutes for high sticks. Twenty seven seconds later, the Sharks
were stunned as blue liner Richie Thornton set up Boström who did not miss his
mark. With the teams now on level terms, and less than five minutes of the game
remaining, overtime beckoned as the Sharks kept the Stars at bay.
Though the visitors
started this five minute period of sudden death in Billingham’s defensive zone,
they were soon punished as the Stars broke away. With one minute fifty seven
seconds of the time played, alternate captain Andy Munroe and import Boström teamed
up to send James Moss through on goal, the forward completing Billingham’s
comeback and subsequently dashing Solway’s hopes of their first NIHL North Cup
victory.
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Photo
Credit: IceHockeyMedia - Colin Lawson
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Speaking after the
game, Chris Sykes told NIHL Northern Trio: “Saturday night’s game in the cup at
home is our only game this weekend but we know it will be good for us after
having a weekend off and facing Solway again next Saturday in their rink. We were
undefeated in the cup and we wanted to keep it that way! We saw ourselves come
out quite slow and ended up 2-0 down going into the third period. We got two
goals and brought it back to 2-2 and started to wear them down and pressure
them. They iced the puck around five times in one shift which meant they were
running out of options and getting tired. We went all the way and ended up
going into overtime and picking up a big win for us. Although it’s the cup, we
will take it and it will put us in a good mind set for next weekend back in league
action. I’m a big fan of overtime and penalties. It makes it much more
enjoyable from every aspect of the game.”
Meanwhile, Solway
Sharks’ Head Coach Martin Grubb shared his views: “It’s never good to lose a
game but the league is our focus, and making the playoffs, so we aren’t
dwelling on this game. We started well enough with two power play goals but we
stopped skating in the third period and got punished for it. I was disappointed
that the players didn’t show more pride and get the win for Kyle Johnston as I
felt he was outstanding in his first start and deserved to win but it is a
learning curve for us all and we are focused solely on Saturday at home in the
league now. We need to take our chances and finish teams when we are on top. We
will work hard this week and ensure we are ready.”
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