Ups and downs

Whitley Warriors produced their best home performance of the season so far in the English National League last night to demolish relegation threatened Blackburn Hawks 11-3, but after dropping an away point against Coventry the night before, the Hillheads club still trail league leaders Nottingham.

A second successive tie on the road leaves Whitley three points behind the Lions, although Nottingham still have to come to Hillheads, meaning they need to drop another point somewhere for the Warriors to claim the title.

“Obviously we were disappointed not to win in Coventry, but I’ve maintained all along there will be twists and turns in this title race before the end; and I’m sure there will be more yet,” said Warriors coach Simon Leach after last night’s victory over Blackburn.

“Just a few weeks ago Nottingham were 12 points ahead of us and now that gap is down to three, so the pressure is on them in much the same way it was on us at the same stage last season; so who knows what the next few weeks will bring.”

Whitley drew 4-4 in Coventry on Saturday, but trailed by three goals with 10 minutes remaining, so Leach was pleased they at least got a point.

“We paid for a poor second period performance and gave some bad goals up,” he confessed.

 “To be a goal ahead at the first break and then concede three in the middle session was unacceptable. But after I was responsible for them going 4-1 ahead, we showed good spirit to come back and totally dominated the last twenty minutes.”

Josh Bruce had completed his hat trick early in the last session, but goals from Karl Culley, Shaun Kippin and Dan Harris brought them level before the end of a period that saw Whitley fire 37 shots at the home goal.

Last night the Warriors were on top from the very first whistle and never gave a Blackburn side that lost an 11 goal thriller the last time they visited Hillheads the chance to get a foot hold in the game at all.

“Apart from a six minute spell in the second session when they managed to score twice, we were in total control of this game,” said the Whitley coach.

“Our game plan tonight was to come out hard and put pressure on them right from the start, which we did perfectly; and I thought we moved the puck around the ice really well at times, scoring some really good goals.

“To be honest we probably should have had more than eleven, but everyone worked hard for each other and I was pleased with the way we went about our business.”

Dale Howey was the only Whitley player to score twice, with man of the match Paul Windridge contributing 1+3.

Simon Leach picked up an assist on the Warriors opening goal of the night and that was his 400th for the club; a mark only bettered by former team-mates John Iredale and Scott Morrison in the modern era of British ice hockey at Hillheads.

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