Whitley Warriors took on the Solway Sharks in a St Andrews Cup game on Saturday evening in the Scottish border town of Dumfries.
Warriors senior netminder Richie Lawson did not travel for the match up which gave teenage goaltender Mark Turnbull the opportunity to start the game with Joe Harley acting as the back up goalie. Whitley also included young d men Craig Johnson and Liam Smedly on their roster alongside up and coming forwards Callum Quennan, Ben Richards and Kyle Ross.
Early in the game Whitley skipper Jamie Tinsley picked up 2 minor penalties for interference and slashing respectively. Warriors penalty killing units were at the top of their game and they were able to see off the Sharks powerplay without conceding. Solway did take the lead on the cusp of the 16th minute though when Mark Fowley fired past Whitley goaltender Mark Turnbull to grab the game’s opening goal.
Aidan Fulton increased the Sharks lead shortly into the 2nd session of play, Dean Holland quickly pulled a goal back from Whitley though when he found the back of the net having been set up by the lively Alex Lawson. Warriors created more openings than the Sharks in the 2nd period and out shot their opponents by 17 shots to 9 over the middle stanza.
Solway were able to increase their advantage during the opening half of the final period through strikes from Ross Murray and Fowley’s 2nd goal of the evening. Warriors were handed a late powerplay opportunity when Sharks Duncan Speirs was given a tripping penalty however Solway were able to hold on against Whitley to claim a 4-1 victory in the first leg of the St Andrews Cup.
The 2nd leg of the Cup takes place in Whitley Bay on Sunday the 9th November. Supporters are reminded that Warriors have 2 home NIHL North league games before the Cup match as Whitley take on the Sheffield Spartans today (Sunday 12th October) before facing the Manchester Minotaurs a week later on Sunday 19th October. All of Warriors home games face off at 5pm at Hillheads.