NIHL North round-up - week 23

Solway Sharks extended their unbeaten NIHL1 North run over the weekend to 18 games with a pair of draws. On Saturday they welcomed Sutton Sting to Dumfries Ice Bowl and it was the visitors who took an early lead through Matt Jeffcock. Sharks pressed for an equaliser and finally levelled just before the first break as John Connolly fired home.

Both teams created chances in the middle period, but neither could find a way through as both netminders excelled and it took until the 50 th minute for the deadlock to be broken when Jeffcock slotted home his second of the night. Sharks quickly made it 2-2 through Stevie Moore, but neither side could find a winner as Sharks’ Gary Russell and Sting’s Dmitri Zimozdra stood firm.

Sharks travelled to Billingham Stars on Sunday hoping to end their rivals’ title bid. After a scoreless opening couple of periods, the game sprang to life in the third with Stars’ Michael Bowman putting them ahead after 43 minutes. Connolly tied things up midway through the period, but Ross Hanlon soon put Stars back in front. Nathan Salem then struck twice to put the visitors back in front, before Bowman’s second of the night tied the game at 3-3.

Stars faced Telford Titans on Saturday and came from behind to record a vital win. Chris Jones and Karol Jets put Titans ahead, before James Moss pulled one back for Stars. Ryan Stanton made it 3-1, but goals from Karl Culley, James Moss and Jamie Pattison secured a 4-3 victory. Sutton boosted their hopes of a top three finish with a 6-3 win over Telford on Sunday. Richie Oliver (2), Chris Sykes (2), Simon Offord and Ryan Johnson got their goals, with Chris Jones (2) and Cameron Blakemore replying for Telford.

Whitley Warriors boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a last gasp victory at home to Blackburn Hawks on Sunday. Both teams enjoyed differing fortunes the previous day, with Warriors slipping to a 6-4 defeat at Trafford – Metros’ Joe Greaves hit a hat-trick – while Hawks’ Myles Dacres also scored three as Jared Owen’s men beat Coventry Blaze 10-4.

Goals by Dave Meikle and Ivo Dimitrijevs saw Hawks 2-0 up after 25 minutes, but Garry Dowd made it 2-1 just a minute later. Dacres restored the two goal cushion, but Warriors responded immediately through DJ Good. Callum Watson levelled midway through the third, but Aaron Davies quickly made it 4-3 to the visitors. On 54 minutes Hawks’ netminder Danny Brittle and captain Chris Arnone took misconduct penalties and Warriors clinically punished their ill-discipline.

Warriors laid siege to injured back-up goalie Stuey Ashton’s net forcing him into a number of fine saves. However, the pressure told and with three minutes left Mark Good made it 4-4. With just seconds remaining, Owen failed to pick up Watson who gleefully slotted home to secure a crucial victory.

Sheffield Spartans maintained their recent good form with a hard fought 4-2 win at home to Coventry. Goals from Ross Jordan, Dan Taylor, Will Barron and Scott Morris gave Spartans the points, to leave Blaze still stuck in the bottom two.

Deeside Dragons kept their NIHL2 North promotion bid on track by beating Hull Stingrays – but they had to survive an almighty scare along the way. First period goals by Chris Hogarth and Kieran Beach put Stingrays 2-0 up, but Andrew Chappell halved the deficit early in the second. Declan Pearson (2) and Hogarth again made it 5-1 to leave Dragons in big trouble, but two goals from Jordan Bannon late in the period gave them a glimmer of hope. Chappell grabbed his second early in the final period and Steve Fellows tied things up soon after. Ric Hughes made it 6-5 after 50 minutes and Dragons held on to seal a vital win.

Solihull stay in the promotion picture after a 9-7 win at home to Flyde Flyers – Erik Bakalar (3) and Joe Henry (2) led Barons’ scoring. Fylde enjoyed a win of their own as they crushed Blackburn Eagles 7-0 – Dan Jones (2), Bobby Caunce, Jason Pirie, Chris Butcher, Elvis Veldze and Dan Bracegirdle got the goals.

Next weekend Billingham travel to Coventry, while the big clash in Division Two sees Nottingham Lions host Deeside.

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