Whitley Warriors sole game of the weekend saw Simon Leach’s side come up against their local rivals the Billingham Stars in a NIHL North Moralee Conference encounter on Sunday evening. Warriors were given a boost going into the game as Whitley were able to name Harry Harley and Nathan Ryder in their line up. Harry only rejoined the club a few days previously from English Premier League side the Peterborough Phantoms while Nathan had been out of action for a number of months with a shoulder problem. One significant absentee from Warriors line up however was veteran forward Karl Culley who was not able to ice due to injury.
Whitley coach Simon Leach opted to play 3 well rounded forward lines and 2 defensive units during this match up. Adam Reynolds, Jamie Tinsley and Harry Harley were Warriors top offensive unit , Jordan Barnes and the young Ben Richards shared ice time alongside DJ and Mark Good on the 2nd forward line. While Martin Crammond, Callum Watson and Callum Queenan made up an extremely rapid 3rd forward unit.
In defence Paul Matthews, Rob Wilson, Christian Johnson and Josh Maddock were the blue liners who took regular shifts with youngster Callum Read and Nathan Ryder in his first game back after injury logging some ice time as and when required. Richie Lawson started the game in goal for Warriors with Mark Turnbull acting as back up netminder.
Warriors started the game brightly however Billingham went on the powerplay after 6 minutes of play when Whitley d man Paul Matthews was given a 2 minute penalty for kneeing by referee Steve Brown. Warriors penalty killing unit worked hard and prevented Billingham from finding the net during their time with the man advantage.
The games opening goal came after 9 minutes of play when Adam Reynolds netted for Warriors after some nice build up play from linemates Harry Harley and Jamie Tinsley. Whitley had the better of the opening session of play and visiting netminder James Flavell saw plenty of shots come his way during the first 20 minutes of action.
Shortly into the middle stanza Warriors went on the powerplay when Billingham’s Stephen Wallace was given a 2 minute penalty for tripping. Stars penalty kill was at its best as Billingham were able to kill off the penalty without allowing Warriors too many offensive opportunities.
Whitley extended their lead after 30 minutes of action when teenage forward Callum Queenan netted his first ever goal at senior level with a strike from close range after Stars had been unable to clear the puck from their own defensive zone. Billingham quickly hit back though when ex Warrior Anthony Price fired past Richie Lawson in Whitley’s net just 3 minutes later which saw the middle period end with Warriors holding a slim 1 goal lead.
Warriors started the final period on the front foot and 4 minutes into the session young Whitley winger Ben Richards managed to squeeze the puck past James Flavell at the netminder’s near post to put the home side 3-1 up. Warriors were now at the top of their game and just over a minute later Whitley alternate captain Jamie Tinsley lit the lamp with a powerful slap shot from distance to the delight of the large crowd in attendance at Hillheads for the final Tyne Tees derby match up of the 2013/14 regular campaign.
Billingham looked for a way back into the game and launched a number of their own offensive moves however Warriors made sure of victory on 52 minutes when Martin Crammond fired home his 3rd goal of the season after being set up neatly by Harry Harley and Callum Watson.
Whitley forward Jamie Tinsley was named as Warriors Man of the Match however youngsters Ben Richards and Callum Queenan both had excellent games and if the 2 teenage forwards continue to perform how they did against Stars both players will continue to impress at senior level between now and the end of the season.
Warriors Points
Martin Crammond and Jamie Tinsley 1+1, Adam Reynolds, Ben Richards and Callum Queenan 1+0, Callum Watson and Harry Harley 0+2, Mark Good 0+1
Stars Points
Anthony Price 1+0
Penalty Minutes
Whitley – 6
Billingham – 2
Warriors Coach Simon Leach shared his views on Whitley’s highly impressive 5-1 victory over Billingham.
“We’ve had a good week in training and we’ve moved the lines around with Harry Harley coming back to the club. A lot of the youngsters got a lot of ice time tonight and they did really well. I thought Callum Queenan was outstanding for such a young lad.
“We were very good from Richie (Lawson) in nets to the forwards up top and with Karl Culley to come back into the line up we have a very good hockey team here. I think we made it very hard for Billingham tonight and then took over in the 3rd period and I’m really happy with our efforts against Stars.”
Warriors victory sees Whitley sit in 5th position in the NIHL North Moralee Conference with 23 points from the 21 games that have been played, 2 points and 1 place below an end of season play off place. Whitley are next in action this coming Sunday when Simon Leach’s side travel to Lancashire to take on the in form Blackburn Hawks in Conference action.