REPORT: MATCH WEEK 10

BILLINGHAM STARS turned in a professional performance to ensure National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 bottom side Widnes Wild left the Forum with nothing on Sunday night, blanking the Merseysiders 7-0.

Credit: Tony Burgum Photography

Widnes travelled across the Pennines on a high on Sunday afternoon after finally bagging their first points of the season with a comeback 2-3 overtime win over fellow strugglers Sheffield Scimitars in South Yorkshire on Saturday. The Stars on the other hand had some rejigging to do after being hit with the ban hammer following the previous weekend’s post-game shenanigans when Nottingham Lions were the visitors. Jacob Hammond was rested for the game, with Mark Turnbull taking over between the pipes.

Credit: Tony Burgum Photography

Any hopes of a shock result were dissipated early as Billingham put the pressure on from the first drop of the puck. The traffic pretty much one way, it was only a surprise that it took until the ninth minute for the home side to open their account, Callum Wilkinson with the tap in from close range with Damarni James sitting out a contentious high stick call. Lucas Dowdle doubled the lead a few minutes later finishing into an unguarded net with Wild netminder Logan Reid protecting his near post. Despite relentless waves of attack, Widnes hung onto just the two-goal deficit until the buzzer.

There was no let-up in the middle session, Chris Sykes with the third in the 24th minute when he found the top corner beyond Reid’s glove from the high slot. The Stars continued to press and a quick release from close range saw James Hellens add his name to the score sheet in the 35th minute.

Credit: Tony Burgum Photography

The third period turned into the Iain Brown show as the in-form forward made sure that his scoring streak did not end on game twelve. He opened his personal goal account in the 42nd minute, two bites of the cherry required to force home under Reid. His second ten minutes later saw him shoot low under significant pressure, the Widnes defence having given him close attention from the start, however he saved the best for last – Tommy Spraggon floating the puck over the Wild power play unit and perfectly into the path of Brown as he raced away and finished a beautiful short-handed effort. 7-0 at the final buzzer then, a shutout for Turnbull from the 20 shots he faced and a hat trick for man-of-the-moment Brown keeping Billingham on top of the table, nine clear of their nearest rivals Blackburn Hawks and Deeside Dragons.

Man-of-the-Match for Billingham was Iain Brown.

Credit: Tony Burgum Photography

Stars Stats:

Iain Brown 3+2; Chris Sykes 1+2; Callum Wilkinson 1+2; James Hellens 1+1; Lucas Dowdle 1+0; Tommy Spraggon 0+1; Rolands Gritāns 0+1; Michael Elder 0+1

SOG: Mark Turnbull 20 (3 / 7 / 10)

Wild Stats:

SOG: Logan Reid 47 (18 / 19 / 10)

Credit: Tony Burgum Photography

Weekend Results

NIHL N1 Saturday:

🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 2️⃣ - 3️⃣ Widnes Wild 🐾 (after overtime)

⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 0️⃣ - 2️⃣ Whitley Warriors 🏹

NIHL N1 Sunday:

🏹 Whitley Warriors 1️⃣ - 3️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️

💫 Billingham Stars 7️⃣ - 0️⃣ Widnes Wild 🐾

🦅 Blackburn Hawks 6️⃣ - 0️⃣ Hull Jets ✈️

🦁 Nottingham Lions 6️⃣ - 4️⃣ Deeside Dragons 🐉