Whitley Warriors took on Solway Sharks in 2 challenge games last weekend going down to a 9-1 defeat in Dumfries on Saturday evening before narrowly losing out by 2 goals to 1 on home ice the following night.
Whitley travelled to Scotland on Saturday without first choice goaltender Richie Lawson and defencemen Ross Hanlon and Josh Maddock. Captain DJ Good got Warriors’ goal with Jamie Tinsley picking up the assist. Blue liner Tommy Ralph was chosen as Whitley’s Man of the Match.
On Sunday, Warriors were watched by a bumper home crowd who had taken advantage of reduced admission prices as part of the club’s ‘Maroon Madness’ promotion which saw all supporters who came along to the game entered into raffles to win signed shirts and tickets for future games. There was also a ‘Meet the Players’ event and buffet after the game in the Sponsor’s Lounge. Supporters enjoyed mixing with the Warriors playing and coaching staff after the game with a number of young fans getting their shirts signed by their favourite Whitley players.
Getting back to action on the ice, Whitley were almost at full strength for Sunday’s game – the only Warrior missing from the line up was defenceman Nathan Ryder, who is out of action due to a shoulder problem. All of Warriors’ close season signings Adam Reynolds, Karl Culley, Ross Hanlon, Daniel Murdy, Daniel Harris and Rob Wilson took to the ice to take on the Sharks.
Whitley played with 3 forward lines and 3 defensive pairings during the game – the top forward units were Karl Culley, Adam Reynolds and Jordan Barnes with Callum Watson, DJ Good and Jamie Tinsley (who played together at times last season) making up the club’s other main offensive line.
Both sides created openings in the early stages of the game however it was the visitors from the Scottish borders who broke the deadlock just before the 9 minute mark when Craig Thurston fired home after some impressive stick handling from the Teesside-born youngster. The other main talking point of the first session of play occurred after 13 minutes of play when Martin Crammond of Warriors and Ross Murray were sent to the sin bin for roughing after an altercation behind Warriors goal. Both players were handed out 6 minutes of penalties with Ross Murray picking up 2 minutes for clipping and 2+2 for roughing while Crammond got 2+2+2 for roughing infringements.
The 2nd period didn’t start positively for Whitley as blue liner Josh Maddock picked up 12 minutes of penalties for checking to the head of a Sharks forward. Once Warriors had killed the penalty, Simon Leach’s side continued to create scoring opportunities during the remainder of the session and Adam Reynolds almost tied the scores up with 34 minutes on the clock when his shot beat Sharks impressive netminder Mark McGill only to strike the post and bounce out to safety.
Shortly into the final session of play Callum Watson left the ice with an injury however the speedy winger wasn’t out of the action for long as he lit the lamp after 53 minutes which saw Warriors level the game up at 1-1. DJ Good and Rob Wilson picked up assists on the goal.
Solway were still creating plenty offensively though and their summer signing Iain Bowie restored Sharks lead with only 100 seconds of the game remaining. Warriors quickly called a time out so that Coach Simon Leach could tinker with his tactics however Whitley were unable to find that game-tying goal against a resolute Sharks rearguard.
Warriors’ Man of the Match award went to Karl Culley while import defenceman Juraj Senko was selected as Solway’s best player on the night.
Warriors Coach Simon Leach shared his views on his side’s performance.
“Today we got into the rink early and had a meeting we tried to put right what went wrong on Saturday night and I think we did that.
“On another day the score might have been different and for a pre-season game to be played in that manner was great. The amount of chances we created was really pleasing. Some of the bounces didn’t go our way but that’s just the way it can go.
“The pre-season games are over now and we start the league programme next week. There are many quality teams in this league and on any given night you have to be on your game. If you don’t apply yourselves properly you can be punished.
“With regards to the lines there still might be a little moving around but we aren’t going to disrupt things too much either.
“Nathan Ryder is out of action at the minute as he’s had a shoulder operation we’ve got to get him back in training and see how he goes. Simon Hehir has been getting onto the ice once a week once he gets himself right he can get training more and then we’ll look at getting him back into the squad.”
Sunday Stats – Whitley Warriors 1 Solway Sharks 2
Warriors Points – Callum Watson 1+0 DJ Good and Rob Wilson 0+1
Sharks Points – Craig Thurston 1+1, Iain Bowie1+0, Connor Smith Ross Murray and Juraj Senko 0+1
Warriors face Telford Titans away from home next Saturday in their first NIHL North Moralee Conference match of the season before taking on the Billingham Stars at Hillheads on Sunday 15th September (face off 5pm) in Whitley’s first home league game of the 2013/14 campaign.