Adam Finlinson looks for the pass. Photo by IceHockeyMedia.
Whitley Warriors got back to winning ways on Sunday after they saw off a strong challenge from Deeside Dragons with a 4-2 at Hillheads. However, they lost out away to Widnes Wild the night before when they lost 5-2 in Cheshire.
Whitley were without Callum Queenan and Rihards Grigors for the weekend but welcomed back Ross Douglass, Kyle Ross and Liam Smedley for the home game. It was especially pleasing to see Smedley back after missing the last nine games through injury. Josh Crane got the start in goal against Widnes while Dean Bowater played against Deeside.
Whitley got off to a near perfect start against the Dragons, racing into a three goal lead with not quite six minutes on the clock.
The visiting side were dealt a disappointing blow to their pre-game plans when they only found out by email on the bus trip north that they would have to do without leading scorer Andrew McKinney due to a lengthy ban being imposed from the night before. That seemed to affect their line-up and a ruthless Warriors attack showed no sympathy as they took their early chances.
Adam Finlinson opened the scoring with his 20th goal of the season just 1:22 into the contest, Anth Wetherell assisting on the goal.
Whitley then scored twice in 36 seconds around the five minute mark to fully take control of the game. Jamie Ord scored a well deserved goal from Shaun Kippin’s clever play from behind the net before Phil Edgar stabbed home at the back post for his 40th goal of the season, following a great stretch pass from Matty McDonald.
But having sensed the game was getting away from them Deeside woke from their slumber and did a great job to stifle the Warriors’ attack for the next 44 minutes. Matt Croyle in the Dragons net was kept busy with the home side out-shooting their opponents 15-6 in the first period followed by 17-10 in a second period that was littered with penalties for both sides which disrupted the flowing play both sides were hoping to execute.
Deeside started the third period much stronger and got a goal back when James Parsons finished low under Dean Bowater’s pads. A little over five minutes later and it became a one goal game when former Blackburn Hawks import Petr Valusiak converted a pass from Parsons to make it 3-2.
With the Dragons now in the ascendency the next goal was going to be vital in determining who would claim the points. Less than a minute later Whitley restored their two goal advantage when Adam Wood scored his second goal of the season when converting a Dean Holland pass on the powerplay.
Whitley controlled the game for the final ten minutes and recorded their first win in four games.
Stats
Shots
Warriors: 48
Dragons: 30
Scorers
Warriors: Phil Edgar 1+1, Adam Wood 1+0, Jamie Ord 1+0, Adam Finlinson 1+0, Dean Holland 0+2, Matty McDonald 0+1, Shaun Kippin 0+1, Kyle Ross 0+1, Anth Wetherell 0+1, Liam Smedley 0+1.
Dragons: James Parsons 1+1, Petr Valusiak 1+0, Alex Parry 0+1, Ross Kennedy 0+1.
PIMs
Warriors: 10
Dragons: 12
Man of the Match
Warriors: Adam Wood
Dragons: Ross Kennedy
The previous night Whitley lost to Widnes Wild for the first time in the club’s history. The Warriors had won all nine of the previous encounters between the sides but fell behind at 8:02 when German import Danny Haid found the net. Dean Holland levelled six minutes later but the Wild would go into the first break ahead when Haid got his second of the game.
Jacob Corson-Heron extended the Widnes lead just 56 seconds into the second period with former Solway Sharks forward Joey Coulter making it 4-1 before the mid-point of the game.
Dean Holland got a late powerplay to cut the deficit but with a little over three minutes to go Mike Gilbert made it 5-2.
Whitley created more than double their opponents shots on goal but couldn’t find a way past Miles Finney in the Widnes net.
Stats
Shots
Warriors: 48
Wild: 24
Scorers
Warriors: Shaun Kippin 1+0, Dean Holland 1+0, Phil Edgar 0+1, Harry Harley 0+1, Adam Finlinson 0+1, Matthew Betham 0+1.
Wild: Danny Haid 2+0, Mike Gilbert 1+2, Jacob Corson-Heron 1+2, Joey Coulter 1+0, Matt Barlow 0+3, Nathan Parkes-Britton 0+1, Tom Jackson 0+1, Kohen Taylor 0+1.
PIMs
Warriors: 12
Wild: 6
Man of the Match
Warriors: Matty McDonald
Wild: Jacob Corson-Heron