Weekend Roundup: Match Week 27

BILLINGHAM STARS are stumbling to the end of their National Ice Hockey League Moralee Division 1 season as they passed up another chance to seal the title that looked so certain just a few short weeks ago.

Travelling to IceSheffield on Saturday afternoon to face basement side Sheffield Scimitars, the Stars looked to have returned to form as they fully dominated the opening ten minutes. Their pressure eventually paid off in the 11th minute, Chris Sykes going short side to open the scoring. Five minutes later, Sykes picked out the opposite corner as netminder Hayden Oates anticipated a similar move, the Teessiders good value for their two-goal advantage. Their concentration slipped however, and a minute later Michael Danecko was gifted a two-on-one opportunity that he did not waste. Lucas Dowdle restored the gap in the 19th minute, but just three seconds from the buzzer Tyler Nixon benefitted from a missed offside call to go clear and bring the home side back within one.

Despite the visitors still looking the better side, Sheffield had drawn level by the 23rd minute through Cameron Pywell. The nerves started jangling, but Billingham lifted themselves and were back in front in the 27th minute as Michael Elder poked his own rebound under Oates. Rolands Gritāns found the net from a tight angle less than a minute later, but the Scimitars were not giving up and Pywell clawed one back in the 30th minute before Ryan Fraley tied things up again at five-apiece in the 35th minute. It was important for the visitors to get their noses back in front before the period ended, and they did so in the final minute as Lewis Hall placed one past Oates’ glove before Gritāns provided some breathing space with a second remaining.

A tense third period ensued, made all the more nervy when Reece Wickens benefitted from a defensive error to bring the hosts back within one, but straight from the face off Elder took control and went high to keep the Scimitars at bay. Desperate to get something out of the game, Sheffield pulled Oates but Sykes rifled in the empty net goal with 25 seconds remaining to make sure of the points.

Man-of-the-Match from Billingham was Lucas Dowdle.

Scimitars Stats:

Cam Pywell 2+1; Ryan Fraley 1+3; Michael Danecko 1+3; Tyler Nixon 1+2; Reece Wickens 1+0; Will Szollosy 0+1; Sam Rodgers 0+1

SOG: Hayden Oates 46 (15 / 15 / 16)

Stars Stats:

Chris Sykes 3+3; Michael Elder 2+3; Rolands Gritāns 2+1; Lewis Hall 1+0; Lucas Dowdle 1+0; James Moss 0+2; Tommy Spraggon 0+2; Joe Dowdle 0+2; Andy Finn 0+1; Callum Wilkinson 0+1; Alex Preston 0+1

SOG: Mark Turnbull 26 (9 / 8 / 9)

Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos

The victory set the Stars up for a potential title win on Sunday night, Hull Jets the visitors to the Forum. The game started brightly enough as Gritāns followed up a Sykes shot high into goaltender Zack Brown’s net in the very first minute. The home side continued to press but could not find a way past Brown, the Jets defence resolute.

Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos

Billingham continued to look the better side but could not unlock Brown, chance after chance going begging. Hull were not without threat however, and a slick counterattack saw Rich Haggar fire through the pads of Thomas Brown in the Stars net in the 32nd minute.

Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos

Low-scoring and tense, the game looked to be heading for overtime and the single point that the Stars needed to seal the League title, but once again fate intervened. With less than two minutes to go, referee Dave Emmerson controversially called Andy Finn for interference, the bench still protesting when Josh Yeardley finished a well-worked special play set-up to move the visitors ahead. With nothing to lose, Billingham pulled Brown and threw everything at the Hull net but it was not to be their night, a much improved performance not given the reward it deserved.

Man-of-the-Match for Billingham was James Moss.

Credit: Colin Edwards, CJE Photos

Stars Stats:

Rolands Gritāns 1+0; Chris Sykes 0+1

SOG: Thomas Brown 32 (11 / 8 / 13)

Jets Stats:

Richard Haggar 1+1; Josh Yeardley 1+0; Boris Giba 0+2

SOG: Zack Brown 39 (11 / 13 / 15)