Whitley Warriors got their 2015/16 NIHL North 1 Moralee Conference campaign off to the perfect start at Hillheads on Sunday evening with new player/coach David Longstaff inspiring his charges to a keenly contested 7-4 victory over Solway Sharks.
The returning Longstaff picked up 3 goals and 2 assists against a dogged and determined Sharks side that refused to go down without a fight and were a match for their hosts for long periods in the game despite ultimately falling short in their efforts to take something back to Dumfries.
Goals from Ben Richards, Callum Queenan, Jamie Tinsley and Callum Watson helped to put Warriors out of sight yet it was their experienced new player/coach who grabbed the headlines and led by example from start to finish.
Both sides came into the game shorn of key players; Solway travelled without Alan Crane and Marc Fowley whilst the home team were missing long term injury victim Dean Holland, imposing D man Daniel Pye, the versatile Alex Lawson and new boy Joe Stamp. Warriors would also suffer a blow during the warm up with Jordan Barnes forced to withdraw at the last minute. Despite the list of absentees Warriors were strengthened by summer additions Andre Payette and Shaun Kippin enabling the option of rolling with 3 lines throughout the 60 minutes.
With only 1:43 on the clock the first goal of a new season had the natives on their feet when Ben Richards shot from the slot crossed the goal line having been fed by Martin Crammond. The early goal was the perfect start and helped to put Warriors on the front foot with momentum building from such a positive opening.
Gradually Solway began to gain a foothold in the contest and the visitors were level 1-1 at 9:49. On the powerplay thanks to a slashing call against Harry Harley, Sharks made their man advantage pay when Juraj Senko was able to redirect the puck over the shoulder of netminder Richie Lawson.
Not to be discouraged at being pegged back Warriors continued to press and put pressure on Hobbins in the Sharks goal and it wasn’t long before David Longstaff marked his return with his first goal of the night. Picking up possession of the puck following a face off “Lobby” was able to smartly manoeuvre his way into shooting position and wristed into the top left corner to restore his sides goal advantage after 12:52.
Back would come the Sharks once more and when a glorious chance for Struan Tonnar on a breakaway was acrobatically saved by Lawson on a delayed penalty call Warriors must have thought the danger was over. Unfortunately they hadn’t counted on experienced Slovakian winger Martin Cingel having other ideas and with Callum Watson in the box from the delayed holding call Solway once more levelled up with the man advantage as Cingel lit the lamp at 2-2 timed 16:08.
A mere 45 seconds later and Cingel had his 2nd goal of the night and Sharks hit the front for the first time, the Slovak allowed too much time and space to wander into the danger area firing home low and hard to give the Sharks a 3-2 lead after the first period.
Warriors came out in the second stanza hard and fast perhaps feeling unjust at being behind on the scoreboard and made it 3-3 straight after the restart as Callum Queenan forced home from close range after Hobbins struggled to deal with a Payette slap shot.
Having soaked up yet more Warriors pressure and starting to rain in shots themselves, Sharks were able to take advantage of a miss control by the Warriors D near mid ice and when Martin Cingel raced clear down the right wing at 28:48 Duncan Spiers was placed perfectly to one time redirect an effort beyond the helpless Lawson.
That proved to be as good as it would get for the visitors and whilst the opening 30 mins of the match up would be nip and tuck Warriors would up the ante for the final half hour of the contest. Skipper Jamie Tinsley tied the game at 4-4 on 34 minutes when neat interplay between himself and the ever more influential Longstaff combined to open the Sharks D. Hobbins was able to deny Tinsley at the first time of asking blocking with his pads but Tinsley would keep his composure and roof his 2nd effort.
Callum Watson grabbed the final goal of the middle session when with 31 seconds to go he was able to spin and wrist an unassisted 5th of the night for the home team and make the score 5-4 with one period to play.
For the third time in the game Warriors would come out firing and score early in the period; David Longstaff picking up the puck down below and somehow finding space to force the puck in at the near post timed 40:56.
Try as they might Sharks simply could not find a way back into the match. Trailing 6-4 and with only 26 seconds remaining in the game Martin Grubb’s Sharks called a timeout and decided to pull netminder Kieran Hobbins for the extra skater. The last gasp effort would prove fruitful and with an empty net awaiting 5 seconds from time it was left for player/coach Longstaff to complete a dream return with his hat trick goal and make the final score 7-4, Warriors running out deserved winners in the end.
Warriors’ next home game is Sunday 20th September 2015 against newly promoted Solihull Barons. Faceoff at Hilheads is the usual time of 5.00pm
STATS
Warriors – David Longstaff 3+2, Callum Watson 1+1, Callum Queenan Jamie Tinsley Ben Richards 1+0, Andre Payette 0+2, Martin Crammond Josh Maddock 0+1
Sharks – Martin Cingel 2+2, Juraj Senko Duncan Spiers 1+0, Iain Bowie 0+2, Aidan Fulton Craig Mitchell 0+1
PIMSOG
Warriors – 4Warriors – 46
Sharks – 0Sharks – 84
Officials
Referee – Emerson
Linesmen – Lydall, Davison