For the second weekend in succession, Whitley Warriors and Billingham Stars played out a high scoring and thrilling NIHL North Cup affair which on this occasion saw the Warriors take victory 6-5. Doubles from the impressive Ben Richards and captain Dean Holland helped Whitley to pick up their maiden victory in all competitions on a night when Billingham Stars hosted their own fundraising efforts for youngster Frankie Sherwood in a show of solidarity and incredible generosity once more.
Warriors travelled down to Billingham again missing key personnel in a season so far blighted by absentees come game night. Imposing defenceman Dan Pye, the only recently returned Callum Watson and experienced playmaker DJ Good all failed to make the journey down the A19 at a time when coach David Longstaff would be hoping to name settled line combinations as his squad look to play catch up with their rivals. The lack of bodies saw Andre Payette move back up into a left wing role on the same line as Dean Holland and Martin Crammond, with Harry Harley resuming duties on the blue line alongside Joe Stamp, Josh Maddock and Craig Johnson.
In stark contrast, a strong and deep looking roster of Stars players including match winner Daniel Palmebjork welcomed their neighbours to the Forum high on confidence. Having taken the opening game of the head to head series between the clubs last weekend, securing a 4-3 victory at Hillheads, Stars opted to rest their regular starting netminder James Flavell with Mark Watson taking over between the pipes.
Looking to gain a measure of revenge from being beaten on home ice one week previous, Warriors came out in determined fashion ensuring no Stars player had time to get their head up during the opening few minutes of play. Skating hard and with purpose Warriors looked well drilled and their hard work paid early dividends when Ben Richards opened the scoring at 4:06, tapping home at the far post a thunderous slap shot from the point by Harry Harley. An enterprising first 10 minutes had seen Warriors grow in confidence after the opener with Longstaff’s men first to every loose puck and playing with an intensity sorely lacking from Billingham.
Richards made it 2-0 after 11 minutes, picking up a creative reverse pass from Longstaff in the neutral zone before skating in on Watson and calmly placing low beyond the Stars netminder. Whitley could sense their hosts were starting to panic and in a crazy 17 second spell extended their lead to an astonishing 4 goal advantage. Firstly Longstaff recreated a carbon copy of the Richards goal at 12:30 before just 17 seconds later Shaun Kippin tapped home unmarked with an wide open goal at his mercy. Stars sniper Dennis Bostrom pulled one back on the power play timed 17:31 but there was little doubt Warriors were well worth their 4-1 lead after a dominating opening 20 minutes.
If the first period had belonged to the visitors then there was little doubt the second session saw Billingham rally and take ownership of the game but not before a fired-up Andre Payette had pinged a dangerous looking effort off of Watson’s right hand post. Stars were becoming more and more of a threat following some strong words during the first interval and reduced their arrears to two timed at 24:08 when former Warrior Jack Watkins chose to unleash a first time shot from the slot having been teed up by Daniel Palmebjork.
At last the goal woke up the Stars fans in the stands who were starting to believe they could get something out of the contest with the Warriors players working tirelessly but struggling to regain their early initiative. Watkins nearly had his second of the evening when his wrist shot clipped the top of the Warriors goal but Stars would find a way to make it 4-3 and a one goal game going into the third period at 38:37 when Richie Lawson was unable to prevent a Chris Sykes effort looping into the net behind him despite his best efforts.
One last huge effort was needed by the Tynesiders to protect their lead and with Andre Payette barking out orders and Harry Harley looking a much needed calm head on D it was still all to play for between two evenly-matched combatants. A game that had swung one way then another looked to have gone back in favour of a Warriors team who started the third with renewed composure when in possession of the puck and, like they had done in the opening period, rewarded their good play with a goal. After Andre Payette had won a face off left of the Billingham goal, Warriors captain Dean Holland was first to the loose puck, controlling before seeing his shot blocked. Not to be deterred, the team in Maroon and Gold kept up the pressure and Martin Crammond was able to feed Holland once more to force home at close range timed 43:05.
The travelling fans sat up in the stands would have been forgiven for wishing referee Emmerson would stop the game early to avoid any further stress, as back again came the hosts. Refusing to lay down and give up on what had been a pulsating contest, Billingham moved to within one once more at 45:58 when James Moss’ effort squeezed in low after Bowman had won the draw to the left of Richie Lawson in the Warriors goal. Stars began to notably increase the intensity of their forechecking efforts in an attempt to unsettle a young Warriors D but try as they may they could not find any clear openings to take advantage from. Indeed, it was Billingham who were forced into making an error and when Jack Emmerson was penalised two minutes for tripping, Whitley made the most of their man advantage with Dean Holland cracking home a deflected power play marker at 53:56 for his second goal of the night.
Behind on the scoreboard 6-4 and with less than five minutes to play, Billingham simply had to throw everything at their dogged opponents but despite Michael Bowman setting up a grandstand finish with a tap in following a save from Lawson at 56:30, Warriors remained one step ahead. Stars opted to pull netminder Mark Watson for the extra skater with one minute remaining but it was Whitley who would close out the North East derby this time round, skating out to a superb 6-5 cup triumph.
Ben Richards received recognition for an outstanding performance by being named Warriors man of the match, Michael Elder taking the award for Billingham.
Warriors assistant Dave Holland expressed his delight after the final buzzer, claiming victory was just what the team had needed:
“We’re absolutely over the moon to have picked up the win tonight. There’s no doubt we’ve needed it regardless of it being league or cup. At the end of last season we maybe peaked just before play offs and since then had a bit of a bad run. We’ve been unable to prepare for this season as we would have liked but we’ve improved, stuck to the game plan and finally been rewarded.
“Key players were missing tonight in the shape of Callum Watson with a little knock, DJ Good; these players make a difference. I felt first period we were well on top, the second didn’t work for us and credit Billingham they capitalised on that. But in the third despite it getting close at the end I thought we got back on top. We’ll go away from tonight happy; there are still things to work on and lines may be tweaked but that’s another day.
“Ben Richards thoroughly deserved his man of the match tonight. Everyone played their part but Ben was outstanding. He has great potential and the ability to go places if he keeps progressing like we know he can.
“We’ll go down to Blackburn next weekend with a bit more confidence and see what we can do. But again that’s for another day. Tonight we’re a happy group with smiles on faces after a great win and to get it here against our rivals Billingham, at their rink, the lads can be proud and look forward to the next challenge.”
STATS
GOALS
Warriors – 6
Stars – 5
SHOTS ON GOAL
Warriors – 31
Stars – 39
POINTS
Warriors – Richards 2+1, Holland 2+0, Longstaff 1+2, Kippin 1+0, Harley 0+2, Payette 0+1, Barnes 0+1, Crammond 0+1, Glasby 0+1
Stars – Sykes 1+1, Bowman 1+1, Bostrom 1+1, Moss 1+0, Watkins 1+0, Finn 0+1, C. Davies 0+1, Keeley 0+1, Palmebjork 0+1
MAN OF THE MATCH
Warriors – 64 Ben Richards
Stars – 32 Michael Elder
PENALTY MINUTES
Warriors – 12
Stars – 8
OFFICIALS
Referee – David Emmerson
Linesman – Hayden Hunter
Linesman – Kieran Wrench