Whitley Warriors travelled down to Ice Sheffield with a strong roster of players as the only senior players missing from the line up were Ross Hanlon, Dan Harris and Dan Murdy.
Warriors started the game positively and had an early power play opportunity after 7 minutes of action when Spartans alternate captain Paul Weeks was called for hooking.
Whitley were unable to capitalise on their man advantage as Sheffield killed off the penalty. Spartans took the lead 3 minutes later when Ollie Barron fired home after some nice work from Ross Jordan.
Barron doubled his tally on 19 minutes when he scored on a Spartans power play which saw Warriors 2-0 down at the first interval.
Whitley started the second period positively as Karl Culley made it 2-1 just 4 minutes into the middle session of play. Five minutes later the scores were level when Callum Watson found the back of the net after being set up by DJ Good.
Spartans continued to create openings though and James Maughan put the home side in front again after 32 minutes of action. Warriors ran into some penalty trouble late on in the second, however Whitley’s summer signing Karl Culley was able to tie the game up at 3-3 with a short handed marker.
Both sides were able to create opportunities at the start of the 3rd however neither side was able to find the back of the net until a defensive blunder from Warriors keeper Richie Lawson on 48 minutes when Stuart Brittle intercepted the clearance and slotted home.
Warriors pressed forward in search of the game tying goal however Sheffield were able to break away on 57 minutes with Brittle firing home once more.
Whitley Coach Simon Leach then pulled his netminder so Warriors could have the extra skater out on the ice however Whitley just couldn’t find a way past the impressive Stones in the Spartans net.