The Whitley Warriors turned a tough double-header into a four-point weekend with important wins against the impressive Telford Tigers and local-rivals the Billingham Stars.
Several key players were missing down in Shropshire on Saturday night, including team captain Jamie Tinsley (who missed the Billingham game too, through injury) and top defenseman Josh Maddock. Despite that the Warriors came away with a great 4-3 win which moved them to the top of the league standings.
Whitley then travelled down the A19 to face Billingham in the second Tyne-Tees derby of the season, and put in what was a very mature performance, limiting their hosts to just 29 shots in a great defensive display.
The opening period was typical of a local derby with fiery hits and was played at a frenetic pace. Whitley probably just edged it, out-shooting the Stars 13-7, but once again James Flavell was outstanding in the Billingham net, turning away a series of shots to keep the game scoreless as the teams headed into the break.
The former Whitley goalie’s hard work was un-done though, just 29 seconds into the second period when David Longstaff set up Callum Queenan for the opening goal.
With Billingham looking to respond, and pushing for an equaliser, they were very nearly caught on the counter attack, with Kyle Ross finding defenseman Joe Stamp with a clever pass but unable to find a way past Flavell.
It was the re-vamped top line however, which saw Shaun Kippin playing at center in Tinsley’s place, that was doing most of the damage. Skippy looked a class act all night, while Callum Queenan probably would have won man-of-the-match had it not been for a great defensive display by Harry Harley. David Longstaff also had a great game, putting in some full-blooded hits and patrolling the area behind the goal with Gretzky-like prowess. At one stage Lobby took the puck past a Billingham defenseman, and very nearly collected his own pass on the other side of him, as he went through a whole repertoire of skills.
Whitley might have been playing well, but the Billingham players were always looking dangerous, particularly Swedish import Dennis Bostrom.
At 28:21 Bostrom tied the scores when he fired past Richie Lawson straight from a face-off. The Puck appeared to get caught under Lawson’s body, but the momentum of the shot carried it over the line. The goal was probably deserved for the Stars but was harsh on Lawson never-the-less, who was having an equally good game for the Warriors as Flavell was for Billingham.
Bostrom’s goal seemed to give Billingham the momentum, and at this stage were looking the better team, but Whitley’s defense held strong. Harry Harley was voted the visitor’s Man-of-the-Match but both Joe Stamp and Dan Pye had outstanding games too. Between them they were able to limit the Stars to just that single goal, and any shots Billingham did get away Richie Lawson was more than equal to, as he stopped 29 shots for a 96.65 save percentage.
Having rode the storm, Whitley hit back, and re-took the lead with just two seconds left on the clock.
The night before in Telford, acting captain, Shaun Kippin had expressed his frustration for his lack of goals this season, but was on hand to net what proved to be the game-winner. It was a goal his play has deserved in recent weeks, and meant a lot to a player who loves playing in these derbies, but he was quick to direct the praise to his line mates, Longstaff and Queenan who combined well, to set him up for the goal. Indeed Queenan put a great pass on a plate for his captain, but Kippin read the play well and was in the perfect position to receive the puck and find the net.
Kippin’s goal was greeted with huge celebrations out on the ice, as it was a big moment for an immensely popular player. As he left the ice seconds later he was greeted with a chorus of ‘you couldn’t score in a brothel’ by the Whitley fans, in a cheeky response to his social media status the day before.
The Third period saw chances at a premium with both Lawson and Flavell working wonders for their respective teams. Whitley had their best opportunity to increase their lead with 12 minutes remaining. Kippin had a shot saved by Flavell, and from the resulting face-off, the puck was played back to Harry Harley on the point, who drilled his shot towards goal, but once again Flavell made the save. A minute later Callum Queenan skated nearly the length of the rink, taking on many players before shooting at Flavell once again.
With time running out Billingham made one final push, but at 57:47 Richie Lawson pulled off a great save to preserve the win and even a minute later when the Stars pulled Flavell for the extra skater couldn’t find the leveller.
Team News
Whitley were without captain Jamie Tinsley along with long-term injured forwards, Dean Holland, Alex Lawson and Ben Richards. That saw Shaun Kippin center the top line along with captaining the side, with Kyle Ross moving up to take Skippy's place on the second line. Martin Crammond had Stu Tomlinson and Jordan Barnes as his two wingers, and Alan Yarrow was on stand by. The usual defensive partners were kept together with Phil Pritchard also named on the roster. Richie Lawson returned between the pipes after being rested for last week's game with the Senators, while Mark Turnbull was his back up.25 Longstaff - 11 Kippin - 15 Queenan
6 Watson - 9 DJ Good - 13 Ross
71 Tomlinson - 18 Crammond - 17 Barnes
22 Yarrow
38 Pye - 19 Maddock
24 Harley - 3 Stamp
21 Cooper - 7 Payette
23 Pritchard
35 Lawson - 84 Turnbull
Opposition View
Billingham had a full bench on Sunday, icing 12 forwards and 8 defensemen. The top line saw James Moss, Michael Bowman and Swedish import Dennis Bostrom together. The second line had Callum Davies centering Chris Sykes and Michael Elder, while veteran captain Paul Windridge and Scott Ward took turns on the third line at Right Wing alongside Jack Davies and Luke Brown. Ben Davison moved back to the blue-line and partnered former Whitley defenseman, Ritchie Thornton. Andy Finn lined up alongside Andy Munroe and all four took turns with Thomas Keeley.
Forwards Josh Nertney, Jack Emerson and Billy Nicholson were named but never left the bench while defensemen Matthew Campbell and Will Robson also never got any ice time.
James Flavell had his usual excellent game against his former side and was backed-up by Mark Watson.
5 Moss - 16 Bowman - 71 Bostrom
15 Sykes - 36 C. Davies - 32 Elder
55 J. Davies - 19 Brown - 10 Ward/ 9 Windridge
4 Nertney, 23 Emerson, 76 Nicholson
18 Davison - 17 Thornton
11 Finn - 8 Munroe
45 Keeley
42 Campbell, 6 Robson
13 Flavell - 21 Watson
Quotes
Shaun Kippin: 'It's great to finally win in Billingham, that was probably our best team performance yet, which is great preparation for 4 straight games against Blackburn.'With usual captain Jamie Tinsley out through injury, Skippy resumed the role he last held during the 2011-12 season. He capped a great individual performance with a long awaited goal.
'It was all my line mates hard work, such a relief to score after a bad few weeks in front of goal! More importantly a fantastic win. Callum [Queenan] put it on a plate for me.'
Along with replacing Tinsley as captain, Shaun re-acquainted himself with a familiar place at center and lead the top line well.
'Theres more responsibility as a centre man, you have to be more defensively minded. I've played there a lot in the past so it was easy enough to slot in. Playing on a line with Lobby and Queenan was great, I have high hopes for Callums future, he's skillfull, hardworking and has a great attitude. Hopefully Tinsley is back soon as he was a miss this weekend. But it was a great opportunity to be made captain and I thoroughly enjoyed it.'
'Theres more responsibility as a centre man, you have to be more defensively minded. I've played there a lot in the past so it was easy enough to slot in. Playing on a line with Lobby and Queenan was great, I have high hopes for Callums future, he's skillfull, hardworking and has a great attitude. Hopefully Tinsley is back soon as he was a miss this weekend. But it was a great opportunity to be made captain and I thoroughly enjoyed it.'
James Flavell: 'It was another closely contested derby. Great to have that many people in watching but just a shame we didn't take anything from the game. I thought we worked hard off the puck and defended well as the Warriors put us under a lot of pressure at times. We had some great opportunities at the end of the 1st that we couldn't quite put away and in a game that tight those chances come back to haunt you.'
Other Results
Congratulations should go to John Ross and Dean Smith, whose Sutton Sting side had a great weekend. Beating Sheffield Spartans convincingly on Saturday before becoming the first team this season to take points off the Blackburn Hawks. Before Sunday's game the Lancashire side had a 100% record but were staring a first defeat in 18 months in the face before they netted a power play goal with less than four minutes remaining. Ahead of the Warriors Four game series with the Hawks, the reigning Champions have re-signed fighter Reece Cairney-Witter. For those who were at the game a couple of seasons ago, Cairney-Witter was the player who attacked Jordan Barnes with a cheap shot from behind, before he was even able to defend himself.
Saturday, November 28
Sheffield Spartan v Sutton 0-6
Telford v Whitley 3-4
Sunday, November 29
Sheffield Senators v Telford 3-6
Sutton v Blackburn 2-2
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