It was derby day in the North East of England, and while Newcastle United found new ways to embarrass their supporters in the pre-hockey kick about, the Whitley Warriors and Billingham Stars put in the kind of performance both sets of fans could be proud of. Two teams full of local players, plus a quality import each, played with the kind of passion and full-blooded work rate that has not been seen by football fans on Tyneside over the past three years.
If Steve McLaren and his band of pathetic mercenaries want to see how to handle a local derby, then maybe they should consider bringing themselves along to a Warriors/Stars game in the future.
Before the game goaltender Richie Lawson spoke of Whitley being like a wounded animal and to watch their reaction following the team’s first loss of the season the night before in Dumfries. The same could probably be said for Billingham who have lost some big games lately to Telford and Solihull, losing some important ground in the race for a playoff spot. In the end what we got were two very evenly-matched sides who played the game in the typical spirit of a North-east derby and in front of yet another bumper crowd, possibly the largest attendance in decades.
The game couldn’t have started any worse for Whitley who found themselves behind after only 26 Seconds when Swedish import Dennis Bostrum powered his way towards the net and fired home the opening goal.
Billingham looked a strong outfit and were probably the best side to come up against Whitley this season. If the home side were to get anything from this game, they were really going to have to dig deep and battle hard.
Whitley did just that when they levelled the scores at 10:22. Shaun Kippin was in possession of the puck down the left wing and was pushed wide by a Stars defenseman but was still able to center a pass which Callum Watson took in his stride and bundled home. It was a well worked goal and had the home fans off their seats.
James Flavell is well known to Whitley fans, having played for the side for two seasons between 2009-11. He is arguably one of the best goalies in the league and his performance on Sunday, confirmed just why. On one occasion he was able to cleverly flick the puck over the bar with a combination of his arm and elbow.
Billingham re-took the lead at 17:43. Their first shot appeared to bounce back out of the Whitley net but the puck landed at the stick of Thomas Keeley and he drilled it home. The visitors could have increased their lead going into the first intermission when they had an odd-man rush, but Richie Lawson was on hand to turn away the shot.
It was a much better performance by the Warriors in the second period and they appeared to level the scores but the officials disallowed the goal and that provoked some hand bags behind the net.
The Warriors were level soon after when Jamie Tinsley read the play well and got on the end of Callum Queenan's pass to tip home.
Less than 2 minutes later and the Warriors could have taken the lead when Callum Watson had a breakaway but Flavell saved well again. Watson put in a man of the match performance and his duel with Flavell was one of the highlights of the game. The Whitley Right Wing gave his team their first lead of the game at 29:45 when he capped a great move. Some impressive build up play by DJ Good saw him find Shaun Kippin with a cross-ice pass, Skippy in turn fed Watson and even though his first shot was stopped, the puck came back to him and that line's persistence paid off when he found the back of the net.
Billingham's power play was dangerous and when the officials called a dubious penalty on Joe Stamp, the Whitley Penalty Killing unit was put to the test once again. Lawson pulled off a good save but on the very next attack the Stars tied the game. Keeley got his second power play goal of the game after being set up by Chris Sykes and James Moss.
Callum Watson had time for yet another breakaway, but once again Flavell pulled off another great save to deny the Whitley forward.
Whitley then worked hard to re-take the lead when a great shot from Scott Cooper beat Flavell but that was all undone when 40 seconds later Billingham’s Andy Finn shot from distance and the puck somehow found the back of the Whitley net.
The third period lacked the goals of the previous two, with the best chance of a winner falling to DJ Good with 2:28 remaining. Whitley were still on the Penalty Kill at that point put the puck just got away from the Whitley center.
The game was fast paced and a great advert for English Hockey. If Billingham were the best team to face Whitley this season then this encounter was surely the best game of the season too. The points were shared, and for now so are the local bragging rights.
Teams News
After playing a lot of minutes the previous night, Dean Holland was rested as a precaution. Dan Pye (injury) and Andre Payette (Suspension) both returned to bolster the blue line. Ben Richards now joins Alex Lawson on the long-term injury list, while Stu Tomlinson was scratched. Jordan Boyle backed up Richie Lawson for the first time this season instead of Mark Turnbull.
DJ Good returned to the second line and he linked up well with both Shaun Kippin and Callum Watson. The trio combined for two of the Warriors goals.
Due to the injury crisis, the third line was re-jigged some what. Martin Crammond returned to the center with Jordan Barnes moving to his more natural position on the wing. Kyle Ross also got more ice time with Ben Richard missing.
The team is on the limit as regards injuries. If any more players are lost the team could be in serious trouble.
Dan Pye started the game but could only last until the mid-way point. It was a shame to lose the big blue-liner again as he looked strong out there until his injury got the better of him. Andre Payette also took a puck to the face leaving him bruised and in pain, but he stayed in the game.
25 Longstaff - 27 Tinsley - 15 Queenan
11 Kippin - 9 DJ Good - 6 Watson
13 Ross - 18 Crammond - 17 Barnes
38 Pye - 19 Maddock
24 Harley - 3 Stamp
7 Payette - 21 Cooper
8 Smedley
35 Lawson - 29 Boyle
Opposition View
It was a case of friends re-united with Paul Windridge, Richie Thornton and James Flavell appearing for the visitors. All three were a part of Simon Leach's all conquering side between 2009-2011. Swedish import Dennis Bostrum lined up on the top line having arrived from the Norwegian league. Billy Nicholson was named on the team sheet but didn't get any ice time.
18 Davison - 16 Bowman - 71 Bostrum
15 Sykes - 5 Moss - 32 Elder
10 Ward - 19 Brown - 9 Windridge
17 Thornton - 42 Campbell
8 Munroe - 45 Keeley
11 Finn
13 Flavell - 21 Watson
News
*The Warriors were sporting new practice jerseys during the warm up sponsored by David Lloyd.
* Officials: Andrew Miller (Referee), Haydn Hunter & David Farren (Linesmen)
* Shots on Goal: Flavell [15,23,17] Total shots faced 55, Saves 92.73%
Lawson [16,15,10] Total shots faced 41, Saves 90.24%
Quotes
David Longstaff: "It was disappointing to concede when we did [immediately after taking a 4-3 lead]. I felt had that goal not have gone in we would have got the confidence to have gone on to win the game 5-3 or 6-3."Callum Watson: "I think the game went well! The whole team put in a solid performance together and I think we dominated the majority of the game! We had plenty of chances and on another night we could have won by a few goals! The atmosphere was great last night and that's a big contributor to us upping our game!"
James Flavell: "It was a good derby with a lot of good hockey on show. Both teams had their spells of pressure and got the crowd right into the game. We have had some tough results of late so it was great to hang on for the point in that last 5 minutes of play. Especially playing against the Warriors in their rink, they've had a tremendous start and its not an easy place to visit. As many have commented, the league is wide open and everyone is battling for playoff spots so each point is going to be crucial."
"I was reasonably happy with how I played. Whitley played the odd-man rushes very well and made it difficult for us on their goals. The likes of Callum Watson are fast on the break and are going to capitalise if you give them too many opportunities. Despite playing for Whitley for 2 years its still a tough place to play. There's always a lot of traffic in front and its tough to find the puck at times."
Paul Windridge: "We played a decent road game. Sat back and took most of our chances. Overall the result was probably fair though, as either team could have taken the points. If we can get the puck of Lobby [David Longstaff] we might win next time."Other Results
Solihull v Sheffield Spartans 10-3
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