ENL North round-up week 30

BLACKBURN, UK – League champions Billingham Stars are through to the ENL1 North play-off final, after a bruising weekend encounter with Telford Titans.

Stars started Saturday’s first leg in Telford on the front foot and they went ahead before the first break through James Moss. Titans hit back in the second as Ryan Stanton levelled and began to take control but found netminder James Flavell in excellent form. Billingham came out firing in the third and a smart finish from Anthony Price moved them back in front. A high sticks and abuse of official call on Ashley Stanton saw him dismissed, and Stars took full advantage by adding a third to take a two goal lead back to Billingham. Titans set home nerves jangling in Sunday’s return, with Ryan Stanton reducing the deficit early on, but Stars quickly restored their two goal cushion as captain Paul Windridge set up an unmarked Andy Fletcher to smash home impressively. Fletcher missed the chance to extend the lead as Titans’ stopper Ben Hunt denied his penalty shot effort, but Windridge made sure of the win in the third with a thumping finish to seal a 5-2 aggregate success. Stars now face Blackburn Hawks in a two-legged final and Coach Stephen Foster believes his team are capable of sealing a memorable Double.” We’re a quality side and proved that again this weekend. We showed great discipline with Telford trying to get a reaction from our players with some of their stick work and off the puck niggles, but we kept our heads and played hockey. A Billingham v Blackburn final should result in some great hockey. They had a strong run in and have some top quality players, but I feel we have the depth and experience to make it count over two games.” Dates for the final have been confirmed as Sunday 22nd April at Blackburn Arena (face-off 5.45 pm), with the return at TFM Ice Arena Billingham the following Sunday (6.30 pm). Contact the author at: Michael.Black@prohockeynews.com