Whitley Warriors played their 2nd challenge game of the 2014/15 season on Sunday evening when the Aberdeen Lynx travelled down to Tyneside for the first ever match up between the 2 sides. Warriors were without the experienced forward DJ Good who injured his hand against the Kirkcaldy Kestrels last weekend while senior netminder Richie Lawson was unavailable.
Whitley Coach Simon Leach opted to start the game with teenage netminder Mark Turnbull in goal and to rotate all of the clubs 7 defencemen on the blue line while giving ice time to all Warriors 4 lines of forwards.
In the opening exchanges of the contest Whitley captain Jamie Tinsley was given a 2 minute penalty for hooking and Aberdeen made the most of their man advantage when ex Warrior Christian Johnson fired home the game’s opening goal just 2 minutes into the match. It didn’t take long for Warriors to tie the game up though as just 4 minutes later summer signing Dean Holland fired past Aberdeen goalie Theo Kynoch with a powerful slap shot.
As the period progressed Whitley continued to create offensive opportunities, youngster Kyle Hindmarsh-Ross shot Warriors into the lead after 14 minutes of play and then 2 minutes later Harry Harley grabbed a powerplay marker which saw Simon Leach’s side lead 3-1 after the opening 20 minutes of action.
Warriors continued to trouble the Lynx defence in the middle stanza of play and Daniel Murdy extended Whitley’s lead just 2 minutes into the 2nd period when he found the back of the net from close range. Alex Lawson then grabbed Warriors 5th goal of the game 6 minutes later when he netted after some pleasing build up play from young winger Ben Richards. Shortly afterwards Lynx opted to change their netminder with Craig Chalmers taking the place of the over worked Kynoch.
Whitley forward Dean Holland was given 2 minutes in the sin bin for boarding midway through the middle period resulting in a Lynx powerplay. However Warriors were able to breakaway on the shorthand thanks to smart play from Rob Wilson and Paul Matthews and last season’s top scorer Adam Reynolds fired past Aberdeen replacement goalie Chalmers to make it 6-1 in Whitley’s favour.
After 35 minutes of action Warriors Jordan Barnes and Aberdeen’s Steven McGowan exchanged blows which saw both players given 4 minutes in roughing penalties by referee Steve Brown. At the end of the 2nd period Whitley also chose to change their goaltender with Jordan Boyle taking the place of Mark Turnbull as Warriors last line of defence.
Boyle was unable to prevent Aberdeen from pulling a goal back though when Jonathan Hogan lit the lamp on a Lynx powerplay shortly into the 3rd session of play. The last goal of the game came on 42 minutes when Jordan Barnes smartly found the back of the net from a tight angle after young d man Liam Smedley had fed the puck into Warriors power forward.
Daniel Murdy was chosen as Warriors Man of the Match while Christian Johnson was selected as the best Aberdeen player during the contest.
Whitley’s next fixture is an away trip to Blackburn on September 14th which is Warriors first competitive game of the campaign in NIHL North action. Whitley’s next scheduled home game is currently on Sunday September 28th when the Sutton Sting will travel north to Hillheads for a NIHL North league game which will face off at 5pm.
Chris Mackenzie