Whitley Warriors entertained the Sheffield Spartans on Sunday evening at Hillheads as 2 sides with Play Off aspirations face off against each other at Hillheads. Warriors were boosted by the availability of Adam Reynolds, Daniel Murdy and Daniel Harris who all returned to the squad after missing last Saturday’s away defeat at Solway.
Warriors had to make a few alterations to their lines going into the game with promising young forward Ben Richards stepping up onto the 2nd forward line to play alongside the Good brothers while Daniel Murdy slotted back into the 3rd forward unit after missing the Solway game last weekend. Whitley rotated the 5 defencemen they had available to them throughout the game as teenage blue liner Callum Read was unable to play due to illness while Nathan Ryder is out of action long term due to a shoulder problem.
Once the action got underway Warriors flew out of the blocks and youngster Ben Richards fired Whitley into the lead with under 2 minutes on the clock. Shortly afterwards Warriors blue liner Tommy Ralph picked up 4 minutes in penalties which saw Sheffield go on an extended powerplay. Spartans made the most of their numerical advantage as Stuart Brittle and Thomas Humphries scored in quick succession to give the visitors a slender 2-1 lead.
Jordan Barnes and Jonathan Kirk dropped the gloves after 8 minutes of play when Kirk took exception to the play of the Warriors forward. Both players we’re given 4 minutes in penalties for roughing while Jordan Barnes also had to serve a further 10 minute penalty for misconduct. Following the altercation Adam Reynolds levelled the game up at 2-2 for Whitley after some slick interplay between captain DJ Good and sharp shooter Karl Culley.
The middle session of play saw Warriors take the lead on 22 minutes when DJ Good fired home for Warriors however Spartans replied almost immediately as Nick Whyatt grabbed a goal for the visitors just 23 seconds after the Warriors marker there was no further scoring in the middle stanza which saw the game all square at 3-3 after 40 minutes of action.
Sheffield regained the lead 4 minutes into the final period when captain Oliie Barron netted for the away side after some nice work from Spartans d man Douglas Jordan. Warriors looked for a way back into the game and on 48 minutes Whitley were given a powerplay opportunity when Will Barron of the Spartans picked up a 2 minute minor penalty for holding. Whitley’s powerplay unit clicked straight into gear and only 20 seconds after the infringement, Jamie Tinsley fired home to tie up the contest.
Whitley had another 2 powerplay chances towards the middle of the final period and on the 2nd occasion Warriors made the most of their man advantage as defenceman Rob Wilson fired home from the blue line to the delight of the vocal home fans who had just seen their side go into a 5-4 lead.
Warriors were now in the ascendency and Jamie Tinsley fired home his 2nd goal of the game and 9th of the season with 53 minutes on the clock to give Whitley a 2 goal advantage. Spartans Coach Martin White quickly called a time out so his side could regroup and Sheffield got a goal back late on when Will Barron’s effort got the better of Warriors netminder Richie Lawson.
Whitley were not going to let this game get away from them though and Mark Good made sure Warriors would be collecting all of the points on offer when he scrambled the puck home after 58 minutes which saw Whitley reclaim their 2 goal lead. With only 20 seconds left in the match Spartans Nick Whyatt clashed with Whitley goaltender Richie Lawson the coming together saw both players pick up 4 minutes in penalties for roughing. Warriors forward Adam Reynolds went to the box to serve Lawson’s penalties to enable netminder Lawson to remain on the ice to the end of the encounter.
Warriors Man of the Match award went to young forward Ben Richards who netted a goal and picked up a further 2 assists in the game while Jonathan Kirk was chosen Sheffield’s top player on the night for his committed all round display.
Whitley Points
Jamie Tinsley 2+0, DJ Good 1+3, Ben Richards and Mark Good 1+2, Adam Reynolds 1+1, Rob Wilson 1+0, Karl Culley 0+3,
Penalties
Warriors – 44 minutes
Spartans – 20 minutes
Shots on Goal
On Richie Lawson in the Warriors goal – 56
On Bradley Day in the Spartans goal – 44
Warriors Coach Simon Leach shared his views on the encounter.
“I’m obviously happy that we won the game, in the 2nd period the game was very open and we had a lot of chances however we just couldn’t just manage to puck the puck away.
“In the third we got some powerplay opportunities which we took which was pleasing and we stuck together right till the end and I think we got we deserved out of the game. I thought Sheffield played well and there wasn’t much in it but I thought we edged it.”
Warriors will be hoping to make 2 home wins in quick succession as Whitley take on the Blackburn Hawks on Tyneside this coming Sunday (5pm face off) in another clash between 2 sides who will be looking to claim a play off spot at the end of the season. Whitley Warriors Supporters Club will be holding a Christmas party at the rink following the game in either the bar or Sponsors Lounge, youngsters can also skate with the Whitley players out on the ice following Warriors match up against the Hawks.