NIHL North week 9 round-up

On Saturday Billingham Stars  travelled to face Sheffield Spartans, but fell behind to Nick Whyatt’s early goal. Michael Bowman levelled things up a minute into the second, but goals from Shaun Wild and Andrew Cook sent Spartans 3-1 ahead. James McCabe reduced the gap to one late in the period and Stars turned things around in the third, with McCabe, Michael Elder and Anthony Price sealing a 5-3 win.
Trafford Metros were the visitors to the TFM Ice Arena on Sunday and Stars took the lead in the first minute through Paul Windridge. Ben Davison, Elder, McCabe and Bowman made it 5-0 by the end of the second and Price added another midway through the final period. Metros pulled one back late on but Stars ran out comfortable 6-1 winners.
Whitley Warriors are up to third after beating Spartans 5-3. Callum Watson put Warriors ahead in the 5th minute, but Ollie Barron (2) and Alex Harding saw the visitors take a 3-1 lead by the halfway mark. Harry Harley brought Warriors back into things, before final period goals from Mark Good, Jamie Tinsley and Garry Dowd secured the points for the home team.
Blackburn Hawks beat Deeside Dragons 4-1 in a feisty Trans-Pennine East/West Trophy encounter at Blackburn Arena. Dragons had the better of the first period and deservedly took the lead through Brian Worrall after seven minutes. Dave Meikle made it 1-1 early in the second and Hawks stretched away in the final period – Aaron Davies, Ivo Dimitrijevs and Matt Viney were on the scoresheet. The final minute of the game saw some ugly scenes, with Hawks’ netminder Danny Brittle, his Dragons’ counterpart Matty Compton and Shaun Kippin all ejected for their part in a brawl. Brittle could also count himself fortunate the officials failed to see him throwing a water bottle in their direction at the end of the game.
Nottingham Lions stay top of NIHL2 North, but had to survive an almighty scare from Sheffield Senators along the way. Andrew Chapman put Senators in front, but Ollie Betteridge and Joe Wightman put Lions 2-1 up by the end of the first. Goals from Dave Ledger, Tom Ray, Callum Rawson and Jamie Pyewell turned the game on its head as Senators took control, but Betteridge narrowed the gap to two by the second buzzer. Betteridge completed his hat-trick early in the third, before Wightman completed a stunning comeback with three quick goals to seal a 7-5 win.
Deeside ran out comfortable 11-4 winners at Fylde Flyers – Worrall (3), Kippin (2), Tom King (2) and Andrew Chappell (2) led the scoring. Hull Stingrays are up to fourth in the table after beating Blackburn Eagles 7-1.
Next weekend sees Billingham face Telford Titans and Blackburn in a home double header, while Sutton Sting host Whitley.

 

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