ENL North round-up week 19

BLACKBURN, UK – Whitley Warriors failed to close the gap on ENL1 North leaders Billingham Stars after battling to a draw on Sunday night. Former Warrior Paul Windridge put Stars ahead after just a minute, but DJ Good made it 1-1 four minutes later. Both teams created chances but neither could add to their tally with Stars’ netminder James Flavell and his opposite number Richie Lawson in fine form. The result leaves Stars five points ahead of Warriors with a game in hand.

Blackburn Hawks move into third place after a workmanlike win over Nottingham Lions at Blackburn Arena. After a scoreless first period Hawks went in front in the 23^rd minute through Jordan Bannon. Lions drew level on 35 minutes when Gareth O’Flaherty capitalised on a Bobby Streetly error to race away and coolly finish past Danny Brittle. Hawks stepped up a gear made it 2-1 just a minute later through Tom King. Lions refused to lie down, creating a number of chances, but couldn’t find a way past Brittle. Hawks finally sealed the win in the 53^rd minute, with King grabbing his second of the night following excellent work by Sami Narkia and Chris Arnone.
The defeat completed a miserable weekend for the Lions as they also slumped to defeat at fellow strugglers Coventry Blaze. O’Flaherty put them in front but Jake Larkin and Connor Hubbuck made it 2-1 to Blaze by the end of the first. Rikki Bryniarski made it 3-1 before Christy Johnson Brown brought Lions back into it. Gareth Owen restored the two goal cushion midway through the game and Hubbuck secured the points five minutes from time. The win sees Blaze move out of the relegation play-off position, with the Lions replacing them.
Solihull Barons moved to within two points of Nottingham by beating Trafford Metros. Dale White gave Barons an early lead, but Sean Day made it 1-1 just before the end of the first. Richard Slater’s 100^th career goal put Barons back in front after 21 minutes, but Metros’ Robyn Crebbin made it 2-2 soon after. Charlie Hammerton and Mike Rodger put Solihull firmly in the driving seat, but Metros came roaring back to tie things up with just five minutes left. Barons refused to buckle and within seconds made it 5-4 through Andy Ayers to seal a memorable victory.
ENL2 leaders Solway Sharks maintained their unbeaten league record with two comfortable victories. On Saturday they beat Lancashire Raptors 13-1 – Stevie Adams bagged a hat-trick – and followed up with an 11-1 win at Flintshire Freeze with the prolific Adam Reynolds scoring four. Sutton Sting stay second after beating Lancashire 10-1, while fourth placed Hull Stingrays closed the gap on Freeze with a 7-6 win at Fylde Flyers and a 5-3 home success over Bradford Bulldogs.
This weekend sees Billingham face a tricky trip to meet Telford Titans, while play-off chasing Trafford and Blackburn face-off at Altrincham.
Contact the author at: michael.black@prohockeynews.com