Garry Simpson's shot is just over the top of the net. Photo by Charlie Mood.
Whitley got back to winning ways at home to Edinburgh Capitals on Sunday. In what was the first leg of the Northern Challenge Cup series, the victory proved to be a great distraction from league commitments.
They went into the game without Anth Wetherell, who picked up an injury the previous night in Solihull. Liam Smedley, Adam Robinson, Olly King and Thomas Fraser were also all still unavailable.
In what was a close game which became very physical at times, Whitley put in one of their best defensive displays of the season. Both sides created chances early on but it would be the home side that would get the break through at 14:50 when Kyle Pow found Matty McDonald on the point for the defenceman to fire home through traffic.
But having just taken that lead, the Warriors’ momentum was brought to a halt with an injury to Callum Queenan. The Warriors forward left the ice having received treatment leaving behind him a large amount of blood. He would not return for the remainder of the game.
Whitley got off to the best possible start to the second period though when they doubled their advantage just 65 seconds in, Garry Simpson squeezing the puck home from the back post against his former side, the puck rolling its way over the line.
The big and heavy hits continued which had the crowd on its feet several times. However a heavy hit into the boards saw Whitley pick up another injury when Kyle Ross had to be helped off the ice.
That hit drew a reaction from the Warriors with Kyle Pow going in to defend his team mate, soon followed by Ross Douglass and Ben Coughtrie exchanging pleasantries on the resulting face off. With the Capitals now on a powerplay they laid siege to the Whitley net when a shot from Joe Lynch appeared to take a double deflection through mid-air with at least one of them coming off a high stick, it was enough to beat a previously invincible Ryan Wardell in the Warriors goal.
Whitley came out with purpose in the third period as they looked to increase their advantage they will take with them to Murrayfield in the New Year for the second leg.
Adam Finlinson thought he had done just that 50 seconds in whilst on a powerplay, when he hit the inside of the post but the puck caromed back out even as the goal light came on.
Edinburgh could sense a way of tying up the scores on the night as they continued to look dangerous going forward. Ryan Wardell was forced into making a further ten saves throughout the final session.
But with ten minutes to go Whitley increased the tempo again. Another powerplay helped the home side but the Capitals defended well on it. The closest Whitley came was when Harry Harley went coast to coast, but as he approached the slot he found himself squeezed between two Capitals defenders and saw his route to goal closed off. Soon after Connor Lewis shot through traffic on the catch side of Craig Chalmers who made another crucial save.
The final two minutes saw Whitley shoot on sight with every opportunity. Garry Simpson’s low shot from the left wing sailed wide before Rihards Grigors tried his luck from a similar position a minute later. Adam Finlinson shot high and wide on a breakaway with five seconds remaining with Garry Simpson’s follow up shot on the turn was right on the buzzer.
Whitley had given it a go and after four straight league defeats it was nice to taste victory once again.
Stats
Shots
Warriors: 57
Capitals: 34
Scorers
Warriors: Matty McDonald 1+0, Garry Simpson 1+0, Kyle Pow 0+2, Ross Douglass 0+1, Kyle Ross 0+1.
Capitals: Joe Lynch 1+0, Dean Walker 0+1.
PIMs
Warriors: 15
Capitals: 19
Man of the Match
Warriors: Matty McDonald
Capitals: Craig Chalmers