Whitley Warriors were in action against the Blackburn Hawks on Sunday evening in a NIHL North Moralee Conference encounter. Warriors were without a number of experienced players for the match up as Ryan Sample, Joe Harley and Richie Lawson were unavailable while the hard working forward Jamie Tinsley did not take to ice after aggravating a groin injury in the warm up.
Youngster Mark Turnbull was Warriors only netminder so the teenage goalie started between the pipes in the absence of Lawson and Harley. Due to Warriors missing a few regular players a number of young players got significant game time including defenceman Callum Read and forward Ben Richards.
Early in the game Warriors were put on the back foot when Ben Richards was given 2 minutes in the penalty box for tripping Hawks powerplay looked impressive however Jared Owen’s side were unable to find a way past Turnbull in Whitley’s net during the time they had the man advantage. Later in the opening period of action Blackburn did break the deadlock though when their new signing Jake Nurse fired home to the delight of the large number of travelling fans who had made the journey up to Tyneside for the contest.
Warriors got a powerplay opportunity of their own after 8 minutes of play when Hawks d man Chris Butler picked up an interference penalty for impeding Ben Richards however Whitley were unable to grab a goal during their 1st powerplay of the game.
No further goals were scored in the 1st period of play however Hawks started the 2nd session of play positively when Canadian import Jonathan Adams fired home after being set up by player coach Jared Owen and Adam Brittle. Blackburn increased their lead late in the 2nd when Adams again lit the lamp when he tapped home a rebound after a Scott Robson shot had been saved by impressive Turnbull.
Going into the final period of play Whitley altered their offensive lines and tactics as youngster Ben Richards joined Adam Reynolds and Karl Culley on the 1st line, Warriors were also looking to leave a man up front as much as possible. Ben Richards had an opportunity to get a goal back for Warriors when the youngster was awarded a penalty shot 3 minutes into the 3rd period however Hawks goalie Brittle was able to save the young forwards effort.
Warriors change in approach and personnel did pay off though as skipper DJ Good grabbed Whitley’s first goal of the evening on 51 minutes when he curled the puck into the corner of the net after being set up by linemate Callum Watson.
Warriors were visibly lifted by their first goal of the evening and Whitley launched attack after attack on the Blackburn net Adam Reynolds made it 3-2 after 57 minutes when he fired past Daniel Brittle in the visitors net. Whitley then levelled the game up around 30 seconds later when Reynolds blasted home from distance after blue liner Rob Wilson found the Warriors forward in just enough space for him to get his shot away.
Whitley Coach Simon Leach called a time out with just over a minute left in the game with the scores level and with just 5 seconds remaining DJ Good found the back of the net after being set up expertly by Reynolds and Watson which saw Warriors claim an amazing 4-3 victory in a game they trailed 3-0 in at the 51 minute mark.
Warriors Man of the Match award went to blue liner Christian Johnson while Rick Ravey was chosen as Hawks best player on the evening.
Whitley Points
Adam Reynolds 2+1, DJ Good 2+0, Callum Watson 0+2, Karl Culley and Rob Wilson 0+1
Blackburn Points
Jonathan Adams 2+0, Jake Nurse 1+0, David Meikle, Jared Owen, Adam Brittle and Scott Robson 0+1
Penalty Minutes
Whitley – 8
Blackburn – 4
Shots on Goal
On Whitley (Mark Turnbull) – 43
On Blackburn – 36
Simon Leach shared his views on the game.
“We were missing quite a few influential players tonight young Mark (Turnbull) in net was fantastic for us in his first full game, the 5 defenceman we had were superb and our forwards really opened Blackburn up towards the end of the match.
“I’m so proud of the effort and commitment my side has showed out there and our youngsters are improving every week.
Warriors are not in home action until January 5th when Solway Sharks visit Hillheads however Whitley do have 2 away games before Christmas when they take on the Sutton Sting (15th December) and Sheffield Spartans (21st December) away from home both games will be played in the Steel City at Ice Sheffield.