Photo by Ice Hockey Media - Colin Lawson
Warriors were in action on Sunday evening in Sheffield as Whitley faced the Spartans at Ice Sheffield. Whitley were without Dean Holland, Alex Lawson and Callum Watson however Scott Cooper, Josh Maddock and Kyle Ross all returned to the match night squad having missed Warriors last competitive match up.
After a slight delay to the scheduled 6.15 face off the action got underway and it was Sheffield who took an early advantage when their skipper Ollie Barron fired home unassisted from close range just 89 seconds into the game.
Warriors were given a powerplay opportunity with 4 minutes on the clock when Spartans Weeks was sent to the penalty box for boarding. Whitley made the most of their man advantage as Jamie Tinsley drew the scores levels after being set up by player coach Longstaff and blue liner Harry Harley.
Both sides continued to create openings in the remainder of the opening stanza with the best chance falling to Warriors young forward Callum Queenan who forced Spartans netminder Andy Bagshaw into a fine save with under a minute of the 1st period remaining.
Sheffield regained the lead after 29 minutes of play when Scott Morris fired past Warriors netminder Richie Lawson after a spell of pressure on the Whitley defence. Towards the end of the 2nd period Warriors Callum Queenan had to leave the ice after he received a heavy hit into the boards from Spartans d man Finks. On the resulting powerplay Whitley went close to tieing the scores up however Bagshaw once again made an impressive stop.
The final period saw Warriors almost equalise from the opening face off when Harry Harley surged forward from his blue line berth and forced another fine save out of in form Bagshaw. Whitley spent a large portion of the 3rd period in the Sheffield zone however Warriors were just unable to light the lamp despite pleasing play from the likes of Callum Queenan, Liam Smedley and Shaun Kippin.
Warriors goaltender Richie Lawson was named as Whitley’s Man of the Match for a fine display in between the posts as the experienced netminder saved 28 of the 30 shots that came his way during the contest.
Whitley are in action on home ice next weekend when Warriors host the Sheffield Senators at Hillheads on Sunday (November 22nd) in a game that faces off at 5pm. Warriors will be looking to keep their unbeaten home record going against one of the divisions newest sides.