Harris nets late equalising goal for Warriors against Champions Solway
On Sunday evening Warriors hosted the NIHL North Champions and current league leaders the Solway Sharks at Hillheads. Whitley were almost at full strength for the clash with Solway as all of the clubs youngsters were available with added great depth to Warriors roster of experienced senior players. Warriors opted to start the game with senior goaltender Richie Lawson in nets in preference to the up and coming youngster Mark Turnbull who had impressed in a number of games before the break over Christmas and the New Year.
Whitley were able to match their opponents during the opening period of play however Warriors did have to go on the penalty kill just before the end of the 1st when Jamie Tinsley was given 2 minutes in the sin bin for hooking. Whitley were able to kill off that penalty though and after the first 20 minutes of action neither side had been to find the back of the net.
Shortly into the 2nd period Warriors speedy winger Callum Watson raced clear of the Sharks defence and fired past Kieran Hobbins in the top corner of the Solway goal to the delight of the Whitley supporters who had braved the blustery conditions to make their way to Hillheads to watch the game.
Shortly after the goal Whitley had the opportunity to increase their lead when they went on the powerplay as Solway’s Frazier Goldie was penalised for slashing however Warriors were unable to make their man advantage count on this occasion despite putting a great deal of pressure on the Sharks rearguard.
The game changed markedly towards the end of the middle period of play when Solway hit 2 goals in just 65 seconds of action. Alan Crane netted the visitors opener after 34 minutes of play when he fired home at the back post before import forward Pavel Melicherick put Sharks into the lead just over a minute later.
Warriors went into the final period of the game a goal in arrears however with Whitley at almost full strength the home side had plenty of offensive options open to Coach Simon Leach. Warriors got 2 further powerplay chances in the 3rd session of play however the Solway defence was at its best to limit Whitley’s genuine scoring opportunities.
With just under 2 minutes left in the game Simon Leach signalled for his netminder Richie Lawson to leave the ice to allow his side the extra outskater however as Lawson was exiting the game Warriors Dan Harris found the back of the net with a superb shot from just inside the blue line to tie the game up a 2 all. This strike was Harris’s 3rd goal of the season and his first on home ice since he re-joined Warriors after a spell in the English Premier League last summer.
Immediately after the goal Warriors called a time out as Whitley were now looking for that game winning goal however there was no further scoring and the 2 sides had to settle for a point apiece from what was a highly entertaining game of hockey.
Jamie Tinsley was selected as Warriors Man of the Match for his committed hard working display while Sharks Pavel Melicherick was chosen as the visitors best player during the match up.
Warriors Points –
Callum Watson and Dan Harris 1+0, DJ Good 0+2, Mark Good 0+1
Sharks Points –
Pavel Melicherick 1+1, Alan Crane 1+0, Frazier Goldie 0+2
Shots on Goal
Whitley (Richie Lawson) – 39 shots
Solway (Kieran Hobbins) – 34 shots
Penalty Minutes
Whitley – 4
Solway – 8
Whitley Coach Simon Leach shared his views on the match up with the Solway Sharks.
“They were a little short benched but the players they had here were all top players so we tried to wear them down and played with high intensity and I think we did that for the majority of the game.
“I think we were a little bit unlucky not to get the 2 points as we worked really hard out there but all in all we did well.
“We got punished when they scored 2 quick goals but then we refocused and for the majority of the 3rd period we had a great deal of pressure in Solway’s end of the rink and asked a lot of questions of their defence.”
Warriors are in action next Sunday night against local rivals the Billingham Stars on Teesside before returning to North Tyneside for a home game against the Sheffield Spartans at Hillheads on Sunday 19th January (face off 5pm). Whitley currently sit 5th in the NIHL North standings 1 place and 2 points below the play off places and Warriors supporters are encouraged to attend as many games as possible between now and the end of the season as the support the players get from the stands can really make a difference out on the ice.