ENL - Whitley Warriors v Telford Tigers 4-3 - Sunday, September 27, 2015

The Whitley Warriors claimed another impressive win at the weekend when they faced a strong Telford Tigers outfit.
The Visitors arrived having destroyed the Solway Sharks the previous night,  with star man James Smith bagging 4+2. With that in mind it was clear Whitley needed to stop Smith if they were to win.
The game couldn't have got off to a more lively start. Words were exchanged during the warm-up and with Andre Payette inserted onto the top line for the opening face-off, something was obviously going to happen. Just six seconds of the game had gone when Payette and Daniel Croft dropped the gloves. It was quite amusing to think Croft could realistically pose a threat to the Canadian hard man, but then the amusement turned to embarrassment as Payette made light work of his spar partner, his arm going like a jack-hammer to Croft's face. Both received 2+2 for fighting, with Payette receiving a round of applause as he left the ice.
The game then started for real and it was an interesting first twenty minutes. It was actually hard to believe the game was still goalless such was the amount of action. Indeed even the score board found it hard to keep up, spotting the Tigers a 1-0 lead for several minutes before it was corrected.
For me Jamie Tinsley had his best game of the season, and was instrumental in keeping the scores level. With less than three minutes gone he prevented a Tigers breakaway when he intercepted the puck in his own zone.
With the opening penalties now expired Payette was back on the ice and within seconds cleverly got the Tigers to take a swipe at him. Jamie Smith, really needed to be on the ice if Telford were hoping of another road victory, not sitting in the penalty box for the next 14 minutes when he received a 2+2+10 misconduct for an attempted spear on Payette. Smith was actually lucky because had he not been punished by the officials, he would have paid a much heavier price.
With six minutes gone Macauley Heywood and Adam Taylor combined well, but the latter's hard shot was well saved by Richie Lawson. A minute later and Whitley had a great chance of their own when Player-coach David Longstaff hit the cross bar and soon after a perfect pass from Martin Crammond picked out Ben Richards, but his back post shot was stopped by Denis Bell in the visitor's goal.
Although the Warriors couldn't get the break through they needed, they didn't stop creating decent chances. DJ Good danced passed Telford's Brad Betteridge, sending the youngster spinning as he tried to keep up, before shooting towards goal. Jamie Tinsley also hit the post whilst Whitley were on the power play.
At 15:22 the Big Fight Part II saw the puck come loose in the Whitley zone and words exchanged between defenseman Josh Maddock and Callum Bowley. Once again it was an easy win for the Whitley man, as he over-powered his opponent.
The Second period saw Whitley take control of the game. DJ Good sent a great pass to Richards, whose shot was somehow cleared off the goal line by the recovering goalie at 21:32.
Telford were proving just how strong their defense and goaltending was, but Whitley finally got their goal. Shaun Kippin picked out Jordan Barnes, who in turn found Callum Watson, who unleashed a trade mark rocket shot into Telford's net.
Smith then went for a tripping call and that gave Whitley a power play opportunity. Just 25 seconds had gone on the man-advantage when David Longstaff set up Jamie Tinsley from close range, after further good work from Shaun Kippin.
With the home side netting two goals in just 36 seconds of play, there was a renewed sense of confidence and the players were firing shots on sight as Telford were rocking.
The Tigers are a funny team though, and just when you think they have gone quiet, back they come. Richie Lawson had to be alert to make a smart stop, batting the puck out of mid-air with his glove, to restore his sides two goal advantage.
With the period edging to a close Martin Crammond, who was having another good game, netted a third Whitley goal, after line mates Good and Richards had set him up.
The game looked safe heading into the third period, but just when you start to believe that, back came Telford, tying the game with three goals in less than seven minutes. Adam Taylor firing home after James Smith had sprung the Whitley defense.
Suddenly Telford raised their game, and on the 52 minute mark, Smith pounced from distance, with his regular linemates, Karol Jets and Callum Bowley getting the assists.
Whitley now seemed nervous, and it came as no surprise when they levelled things with 4:32 remaining. Richards had found DJ Good with a great pass but after his shot was stopped, Telford broke up the ice with, Jets unleashing an unstoppable shot. The line of Smith, Jets and Bowley combined to great effect during the final period, and it just makes you wonder what might have been had Smith not taken so many stupid penalties.
Just when it looked like both teams were going to share a second 3-3 tie in as many weekends, the Warriors were thrown a lifeline. Daniel Harrison took a tripping penalty fifteen seconds after the equalising goal, to set up a power play opportunity.
Whitley were pushing hard to find a winner and that nearly proved their downfall when the Tigers were presented with an odd man rush on the penalty kill. Thankfully they failed to take that chance presented to them and the Warriors re-took the momentum.
Whitley worked hard, cycling the puck between Callum Watson and David Longstaff before Ben Richards was picked out, and he netted the winner from close range.
Telford called a timeout straight after the game winning goal, discussing when they would pull their goalie for the extra attacker, but Whitley were able to close out the game without any further drama.

Whitley Line Up
Whitley stuck to the same line up as last week against Solihull, but Andre Payette did start on the top line for the opening face-off at Right Wing so he could deal with Croft. Kyle Ross made up a fourth line with Callum Watson helping out on there and either Jamie Tinsley or Jordan Barnes centering. The defensive pairings were also unchanged, while Liam Smedley saw some ice time alongside Dan Pye and Stu Tomlinson got a couple of shifts with Harry Harley.
Shaun Kippin played well on the top Power Play line with Longstaff and Tinsley.


25 Longstaff - 27 Tinsley - 15 Queenan
11 Kippin - 17 Barnes - 6 Watson
18 Crammond - 9 DJ Good - 64 Richards
13 Ross


19 Maddock - 38 Pye
24 Harley - 3 Stamp
7 Payette - 21 Cooper
8 Sedley - 71 Tomlinson


34 Lawson - 84 Turnbull


Did not play - 12 A. Lawson (Knee), 14 Holland (Groin), 4 Johnson (Hand), 29 Boyle (Scratch).


Opposition View
Telford arrived with much the same team that appeared in Shropshire last week. The forward lines were unchanged with the Smith/Bowley/Jets line causing most of the damage.
The defensive pairings were slightly re-jigged. Harrison and Hustwick started together, as did Croft and Lees but they were soon mixed up with what appeared to be only five d-men available. Chris Brown was named but didn't see any on-ice action.


94 Smith - 72 Bowley - 4 Jets
10 Betteridge - 61 Taylor - 55 Heywood
21 Aston - 13 Mulcahy - 7 Griffin


23 Lees - 11 Harrison
27 Croft - 9 Goodison
18 Hustwick


44 Bell


89 Brown

Quotes

Martin Crammond: 'I felt tonight we were close to playing the type of game we have been wanting to produce all season. We were certainly close to it. I was happy with my game, my numbers have been up this season so far and the new line is working well. Having DJ (Good) at center, means I can move back to the wing where I feel most comfortable, and use my pace to get at their defense. I have played with Ben (Richards) quite a bit and we understand each other's game really well. We are constantly looking to see where the other one is, and if one goes into the corner to dig out the puck, the other will hang back.'
DJ Good: 'It was good to get another win and remain unbeaten. The line (with Crammond and Richards) is good, it's a new line to get used to, but my wingers are spot on, working hard and improving each game, I'm looking forward to Sunday's game (at home to Sutton).

Lobby (David Longstaff) wants us cycling the puck in their end, while on the old line I would be looking to get the puck out to Callum (Watson) on the right wing to try and get goals. Callum would know where I would be and would look to find me in the slot. Its different working with two new line mates, as we get to build up some chemistry, but it worked quite well on sunday and Ben (Richards) is starting to play really well.'

Former Warrior Alan Yarrow was an interested spectator in the stands: 'It was a good game, if a bit close at the end though. You really can't switch off for a minute in this league, they have some quick forwards who can punish you. I was a bit stressed at that point and was shouting encouragement to the lads to keep them focused, telling them to keep hitting and not to give them time on the puck. But the lads are doing well and the performances will only get better.'

Telford Tigers Coach Jason Parry: “Whitley is a really tough place to go and it can be intimidating, but we stood up to them well. We deserved to take some points from the game. Crofty stood up to Payette at the start and Callum Bowley had a fight as well, which shows we won’t be intimidated. They were trying to do that from the warm-up.”
“It was a good, solid road game, but the bounces just didn’t go our way. At 3-0 down we kept going, but they got a goal right at the end. A lot of teams will go to Whitley and at 3-0 down in the second period, won’t have the fight that we did. We kept skating, doing the right things and were rewarded for our hard work at 3-3. At the end we had nearly killed a powerplay, but they just snuck a goal with a few seconds of it left.” 
News
* Defenseman Craig Johnson has been missing for the last few games as he has 'soft tissue damage to his hand and hasn't been risked', confirmed Assistant Coach Dave Holland.
* I know I can be pretty one-sided when it comes to reporting about the Whitley Warriors, but Telford have nothing on me. Their Coach Jason Parry actually thought Daniel Croft stood up to Andre Payette. If you can say Croft's face stood up well to Payette's series of punches then yes he did!
* A video of the fight can be found on the official Hockey From Across The Pond Facebook page. Check it out and decide who won the fight. Pretty sure it wasn't Crofty.
* Telford's official website have their own take on the game here:
http://www.tigershockeyuk.com/2015/09/tigers-nihl-pass-physical-test-against-warriors/




Weekend Results
Saturday, September 26
Sutton Sting v Sheffield Spartans 7-5
Telford Tigers v Solway Sharks 6-3


Sunday, September 27
Sheffield Spartans v Sutton Sting 1-0
Solihull Barons v Solway Sharks 5-4