Good value for victory

Whitley Warriors head into next Sundays derby clash with league leaders Billingham Stars on the back of four consecutive wins after disposing of Nottingham Lions with seven unanswered goals at Hillheads last night.

The Lions are the only side to have beaten Billingham so far this season, so Warriors coach Garry Dowd was delighted to get such a resounding victory ahead of the top-of-the-table clash.

"Nottingham do blow hot and cold," he said, "but we were good value for this victory and it certainly gives the Stars something to think about ahead of the game.

"But what pleased me most about tonight was our passing," Dowd added, "we were short on numbers, but because we passed the puck well, we were able to conserve energy so that we were still going as strong at the end.

"The puck is always the fastest thing on the ice and we have been working hard in training making sure we pass intelligently; and make every one count."

At times it looked as if the Warriors were on a permanent powerplay, such was their dominance of the game, but they still defended very well when it was needed and Dowd was delighted with the all-round play of his side.

"I don't like to single out individuals, but we scored some well-worked goals tonight," he continued, "and that was down to hard work on the part of everyone, while we took care of business in our own end very well as well.

"The forwards were always willing to help out at the back, while the defence was keen to link up in the opposition half of the ice as well; but that is something we are going to have to do very well next weekend as well," the coach concluded.

DJ Good scored the only goal of the first session, striking while the Warriors were short-handed, and then added a second in the 28th minute. However, it was a spell of three in just 55 seconds that eventually put the Warriors in control; Callum Watson (2) and Dean Holland finding the mark.

The game was over by the time the final session started, but Whitley still had to protect netminder Richie Lawson to make sure he was not beaten. In the end the former Vipers keeper faced 17 shots for his first shut-out in Warriors colours.

Holland and Nathan Ryder then completed the rout with markers inside the last three minutes of the game.