Warriors travelled up to Scotland to face the Solway Sharks on Saturday evening. Whitley were without several first team players as blue liner Nathan Ryder was injured, Dan Harris and Callum Watson were ill and other players were unavailable.
Warriors opted to play 3 forward lines throughout the game with Jamie Tinsley and DJ Good rotating at centre ice with 3 sets of wingers. Whitley used 5 blue liners during the game with youngster Callum Read getting regular ice time throughout the contest.
The game started at a fast pace as both sides looked to take an early advantage though it was Solway who took the lead on 3 minutes when the in form Ross Murray found the back of the net. Solway continued to create opportunities and d man Alan Crane netted superbly from the blue line just before the end of the first session of play to make it 2-0 to the home side.
Despite being short benched Warriors continued to play some disciplined hockey with DJ Good and Ben Richards both looking dangerous for Whitley on the breakaway.
League leaders Solway were still looking sharp offensively though and Stevie Moore made it 3-0 after 30 minutes of play. Sharks extended their lead towards the end of the period when Joe Coulter netted his first ever goal in senior hockey when the youngster fired home after some pleasing build up play from Ross Murray and Stevie Moore.
Warriors continued to show a great deal of guile and spirit in the third period and they were rewarded for their efforts when Jordan Barnes (assisted by Mark Good) lit the lamp with 11 minutes left in the contest. Solway’s import Juraj Senko did get the game’s final goal though when he powerfully fired home after his surge from the blue line split the Whitley defence which saw the game end 5-1 in the home sides favour.
Alan Crane was chosen as Solway’s Man of the Match while Josh Maddock was chosen as Warriors most impressive player on the night.
Warriors next take to the ice on Sunday December 1st (face off 5pm)when Simon Leach’s side face the Sheffield Spartans at home in a NIHL North Moralee Conference encounter.