Whitley Warriors travelled to Ice Sheffield with a strong roster for their NIHL North Moralee Conference game against the Sutton Sting as the only senior player missing from Warriors’ line up was Ryan Sample.
Richie Lawson started the game in nets with Warriors Head Coach Simon Leach electing to play three forward and defensive units throughout the contest.
Once the game got underway Sutton were having the better of the chances however Sting were unable to break the deadlock and Warriors took the lead on 13 minutes when Adam Reynolds fired home a power play marker unassisted.
Sutton continued to create openings and Matt Jeffcock tied the game up when he lit the lamp after 15 minutes. Warriors then took a couple of minor penalties towards the end of the first period however Whitley’s penalty killing unit were equal to everything that was thrown at them.
Warriors started the second period on the front foot and took the lead when Callum Watson finished off a well worked move that the Good brothers Mark and DJ Good had both been highly influential in. Sutton equalised 3 minutes later when a Chris Sykes shot beat Richie Lawson in the Warriors goal.
Whitley were playing some nice hockey during the middle session of play and they were rewarded for their persistence when Karl Culley fired home after being set up expertly by line mates Adam Reynolds and Callum Watson.
Warriors held a 3-2 lead going into the final twenty minutes of play and extended that lead further on 46 minutes when Jamie Tinsley netted on the power play. Whitley made it 5-2 shortly afterwards when Callum Watson found the back of the net to the delight of the vocal contingent of travelling Warriors fans.
Sutton opted to switch netminders after Whitley’s 5th goal went in which saw Andy Bagshaw replace Dmitri Zimzodra in the home side’s goal. Sting continued to create opportunities and got themselves back into the game with 2 quick goals midway through the final period.
With just over four minutes left in the game Warriors Martin Crammond picked up a minor penalty for interference which gave Sting a late power play opportunity.
Whitley managed to kill that penalty successfully however Sutton tied the game up after 58 minutes when Chris Colegate found the back of the net which saw the game end all square at 5 goals apiece.
Warriors Points
Callum Watson 2+1, Adam Reynolds 1+1, Jamie Tinsley and Karl Culley 1+0, Mark Good and DJ Good 0+2, Rob Wilson and Ross Hanlon 0+1
Warriors Man of the Match went to Callum Watson with Chris Colegate taking the accolade for Sutton.