REPORT: MATCH WEEK 13

BILLINGHAM STARS suffered their second National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 defeat of the season on Sunday, going down 7-3 on the road at closest rivals Blackburn Hawks.

Travelling over the Pennines with a short bench – a specifically only four defencemen – was always going to be a tough ask as the Stars took on a Blackburn side needing a win to keep tabs on Billingham in the title chase. The Teessiders were at least able to welcome back James Moss and Connor McNulty, but perversely that meant more lineup changes that seemed to disrupt the chemistry that had served them so well in previous weeks, especially in the first period.

The visitors were certainly not at the races in the early stages of the game, looking pensive and unwilling to engage their opponents. It did not help that the Hawks were off the mark so quickly, the defence parting to leave Andy McKinney with an easy pass across goal for Jacob Lutwyche to tap in after just 25 seconds. A similar scenario unfolded in the fourth minute, Lutwyche allowed to skate through without challenge to fire low past Jacob Hammond in the Stars net for 2-0. The home side continued to create chances and Billingham were grateful to Hammond for keeping the score down, but he could do nothing about the third as Daragh Spawforth again found the defence wanting and beat Hammond down low in the 16th minute. The Stars needed a response and got it just 25 seconds before the buzzer, James Hellens with a laser past Oliver Thomasson between the Hawks pipes to bring the visitors back into contention.

Billingham were a different side in the second as the mixed-up lines started to click. Two quick goals saw them draw level in the 31st minute, Moss dancing through the Blackburn back line before rifling home, then Iain Brown squeezed one off the post and past Thomasson just 21 seconds later. Hammond was still the busier of the two netminders however, and he kept the score tied as the two sides headed into the final twenty.

The Stars made more changes as they tried to hang onto their hosts, but the Hawks proved too strong as their guests tired. An unlucky deflection took the puck past Hammond’s outstretched leg for Spawforth’s second in the 47th minute, then two minutes later Billingham were punished for losing possession in the offensive zone as the home side swept forward and Josh Crawley one-timed past Hammond to finish the move. The Stars could not respond this time, and two late power play goals from Adam Barnes and James Riddoch in the final two minutes put the gloss on a well-deserved win for second-placed Blackburn to reignite their title chase.

Man-of-the-Match for the Stars was Michael Elder.

Hawks Stats:

Jacob Lutwyche 2+0; Daragh Spawforth 2+0; Josh Crawley 1+1; Adam Barnes 1+1; James Riddoch 1+0; Andy McKinney 0+3; Lee Pollitt 0+2; Aaron Davies 0+1; Matty Cross 0+1; Bobby Streetly 0+1

SOG: Oliver Thomasson 30 (15 / 9 / 6)

Stars Stats:

James Moss 1+1; James Hellens 1+1; Iain Brown 1+0; Chris Sykes 0+1; Rolands Gritāns 0+1

SOG: Jacob Hammond 45 (17 / 15 / 13)

Weekend Results:

NIHL N1 Saturday:

🦁 Nottingham Lions 4️⃣ - 5️⃣ Whitley Warriors 🏹

✈️ Hull Jets 1️⃣ - 5️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️

⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 7️⃣ - 1️⃣4️⃣ Deeside Dragons 🐉

NIHL N1 Sunday:

🏹 Whitley Warriors 3️⃣ - 6️⃣ Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️

🗡️ Sheffield Scimitars 1️⃣ - 7️⃣ Hull Jets ✈️

🐉 Deeside Dragons 4️⃣ - 5️⃣ Widnes Wild 🐾

🦅 Blackburn Hawks 7️⃣ - 3️⃣ Billingham Stars 💫

🦁 Nottingham Lions 3️⃣ - 7️⃣ Solihull Barons ⚜️