ENL North round-up week 25

BLACKBURN, UK – Billingham Stars edged a step closer the ENL1 North crown with a hard fought draw at Whitley Bay on Sunday. Warriors could have moved level with Stars the previous day with a win at Sheffield Spartans, and things started well with Christian Johnson and Harry Harley putting Garry Dowd’s men 2-0 ahead inside the first two minutes. Joe Millard pulled one back for Spartans midway through the second, but Dean Holland restored the two goal cushion just before the break. Shaun Wild made it 3-2 after 44 minutes and Millard grabbed his second of the

night to tie the game soon after. Both teams pressed for the winner but both defences coped well and the spoils were shared. The result ensures Sheffield’s place in ENL1 next term. Sunday’s clash with Stars drew a big crowd to Hillheads and it was the visitors who made the early running with goals from Adam Robinson and Michael Elder giving them an early lead. With time ticking down in the first, Warriors’ Mark Good capitalised on a fortunate rebound to halve the deficit. The home team applied more pressure in the second but found Stars’ netminder James Flavell in fine form, and it wasn’t until midway through the third before they drew level – Dean Holland scoring from the tightest of angles. A tense final ten minutes failed to produce any more goals and the teams settled for a point apiece. Stars are now a point clear of Warriors with a game in hand and just four games to play. Third met fourth at Blackburn Arena on Sunday as the Hawks faced Telford Titans. Rick Hughes put the home team ahead midway through the first but Ed Eaton’s 27th minute strike levelled things up. Jared Owen put Hawks back in front after 35 minutes but goals in a minute from Eaton and Chris Jones put Titans 3-2 ahead at the second break. Chris Arnone’s thunderbolt early in the third made it 3-3 and Hawks looked like going on to win, but with less than two minutes remaining, Jones bagged his second of the night to silence the home fans. Trafford Metros play-off hopes are all but over after they slumped to defeat at home to Nottingham. The Lions are desperate for points in their quest to avoid the relegation play-off and ran out convincing 5-2 victors – Joe Wightman scored four. Coventry Blaze are level on points with Nottingham after a 3-1 win at Solihull – a result which sees the Barons make an immediate return to ENL2. Solway Sharks kept their unbeaten record intact in ENL2 – but only just. Goals from Mark Gallagher and Adam Reynolds put Sharks in front at Hull Stingrays, but Andrew Ward made it 2-1 midway through the game. The home team created a number of excellent chances but they couldn’t find a way past netminder Gary Russell and Sharks held on for the win. Sutton Sting look strong favourites to claim the promotion play-off position after cruising to an 8-2 success at Flintshire Freeze – Richie Oliver scored three. Freeze kept their fading hopes alive with a 6-3 win at Sheffield Senators. This weekend sees Billingham look to extend their lead over Whitley with a home win over Sheffield Spartans, while Coventry Blaze face a crucial game against Telford. Michael.Black@prohockeynews.com