REPORT: MATCH WEEK 24

BILLINGHAM STARS survived a scare at ninth-placed Widnes Wild as they extended their lead at the top of National Ice Hockey League (N) Moralee Division 1 to nine points thanks to results elsewhere.

A miscommunication meant that the Stars – meant to be playing in their home jerseys to facilitate a Wild request to wear Valentine’s-themed black jerseys – were short of a couple of shirts which led to the somewhat strange sight of Iain Brown playing in his away jersey turned inside out, whilst Shaun Galloway borrowed his own jersey from last season from a fan. Disruption put to one side, Billingham started the game in the right way and got their noses in front in the third minute, Michael Elder firing low from the slot to finish a smart pass from Brown. Thereafter however, the visitors struggled to get past a determined Widnes outfit and despite enjoying plenty of possession play, that single goal would be all they had to show from the first session.

The second period saw the Wild take the game to their loftier opponents, and they finally got the leveller their improved play deserved in the 26th minute. With James Moss sitting a contentious cross-checking minor, Jacob Hammond in the Stars net made an excellent initial kick save but Andrew Hopkins was well placed to pot home the rebound. The scores tied and with Billingham not connecting as fluidly as usual, Hammond had to hold back the hosts as they threatened to take control of the game.

The Stars got back to something approaching their normal selves in the final stanza, once again dominating the offensive zone with the home side having netminder Paul Maudsley to thank for keeping them in the game. Billingham finally got the go-ahead goal in the 51st minute, Conner McNulty going bar down to nudge the Stars ahead. The nerves were still jangling into the late stages of the game, but Brown on the rebound in the 57th minute just about made the points safe and the Stars able to breathe again as they left Merseyside with the three points, 1-3 perhaps not the scoreline many were expecting.

Man-of-the-Match for Billingham was Shaun Galloway.

Wild Stats:

Andrew Hopkins 1+0; Matty Barlow 0+1; Dani Haid 0+1

SOG: Paul Maudsley 50 (18 / 12 / 20)

Stars Stats:

Michael Elder 1+1; Iain Brown 1+1; Conner McNulty 1+0; James Hellens 0+1

SOG: Jacob Hammond 31 (9 / 14 / 8)

Weekend Results:

NIHL N1 Saturday:

🦅 Blackburn Hawks 8️⃣ - 2️⃣ Widnes Wild 🐾

⚔️ Leeds Knights 2 5️⃣ - 8️⃣ Whitley Warriors 🏹

NIHL N1 Sunday:

🏹 Whitley Warriors 1️⃣1️⃣ - 4️⃣ Sheffield Scimitars 🗡️

🐉 Deeside Dragons 3️⃣ - 8️⃣ Nottingham Lions 🦁

✈️ Hull Jets 7️⃣ - 1️⃣ Leeds Knights 2 ⚔️

⚜️ Solihull Barons 6️⃣ - 5️⃣ Blackburn Hawks 🦅

🐾 Widnes Wild 1️⃣ - 3️⃣ Billingham Stars 💫