ENL North round-up week 13

BLACKBURN, UK – Billingham Stars’ unbeaten league run finally came to an end, as they fell to a shock home defeat to Nottingham Lions.
The ENL1 North leaders went into the clash as firm favourites, after extending the run to 15 games with a hard fought draw at Coventry Blaze on Saturday. Rikki Bryniarski put Blaze ahead after 12 minutes, but Simon Hehir grabbed an equaliser early in the second period. Blaze piled on the pressure in the third, but Stars’ netminder James Flavell made a series of fine stops to earn his team a point.

Stars got off to a flying start on Sunday with Martyn Davies putting them ahead in the fourth minute. Michael Rose levelled things up at the start of the second and Danny Rose put Lions ahead after 26 minutes. Billingham upped their game and Scott Ward made it 2-2 in the 30^th minute, but Christy Johnson-Brown’s strike just 16 seconds before the end of the period put the visitors in front again. Stars put Nottingham under the cosh in the third, but found netminder Richie Griffiths in inspired form and Lions held on to win 3-2.
Whitley Warriors closed the gap on Billingham to five points with a pair of wins over Blackburn Hawks. They dominated the early going in Blackburn on Saturday, but fell behind in the ninth minute when Aaron Davies tipped in a Chris Arnone slapshot. DJ Good equalised after 15 minutes, but Jordan Bannon put Hawks back in front midway through the second.
Callum Watson made it 2-2 after 46 minutes and Dean Holland put Warriors in front moments later. Mark Good capitalised on slack defending to make it 4-2 and Holland’s second of the night in the final minute crowned an impressive night’s work. Sunday’s return at Hillheads saw Warriors ease to a 4-2 win, with DJ Good (2), Watson and Holland, on the scoresheet once again.
Whitley Coach Garry Dowd was delighted with the weekend, “We worked hard in training, changed a few things around and the lads responded with two good performances,” he said. “Even though we trailed 2-1 at the end of the second period on Saturday, I always felt we were in control of the game. In the end we were comfortable winners.”
Hawks’ Player/Coach Jared Owen slammed his team after Saturday’s game, calling their collapse “the most disgusting, heartless performance” since he’d taken over.
Sheffield Spartans moved into third place with a win at Trafford Metros. Jake Nurse gave Metros an early lead but Ollie Barron levelled things midway through the first. Tom Revesz restored the home team’s lead after 30 minutes, but Shannon Lingwood’s determination was rewarded with a 36^th minute leveller. Joe Greaves made it 3-2 to Metros early in the third, before Andy Turner tied things up again after 51 minutes. Two quick goals from Shaun Wild and Will Barron made it 5-3 to Spartans, before Turner’s empty netter in the last few seconds capped an excellent team performance.
This weekend features two derby clashes, with Solihull Barons facing Coventry and Blackburn meeting Trafford. Contact the author at: michael.black@prohockeynews.com