Billingham Stars battled their way to a point as a late equaliser secured a 1-1 draw with local rivals Whitley Warriors in a National Ice Hockey League (North) Moralee Division One clash on Tyneside.
The first period saw end-to-end action as both sides fought to get the upper hand.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between however, and scoring opportunities were limited.
The closest the Ultimate Windows-sponsored Teessiders came was in the 16th minute when Michael Elder hit the post after being set up by Andy Munroe.
The period had a sting in the tail for the visitors as with less than two minutes to play Jamie Tinsley put the Warriors ahead, finishing a clever pass from behind the net from youngster Callum Queenan.
The middle session was scrappy from both teams.
Billingham appeared to be getting the measure of their hosts but the playing conditions made it very difficult for either side to make the most of any opportunities created, the ice surface itself looking uneven and tough to play on.
The better of the few chances fell to the Stars, Elder missing a one-on-one opportunity in the 35th minute, while Michael Bowman forced a save from Whitley netminder Richie Lawson on the breakaway a minute later.
Early final period chances for the Warriors to put the game to bed were squandered as the home side hit the post and Stars’ netminder James Flavell made a great save to keep his side in it.
After that it was Billingham who made all the running as they went to search of an equaliser.
Scott Ward missed a breakaway chance in the 46th minute and Chris Sykes put one wide in the 50th minute.
The visitors looked to be running out of time, but when Warriors’ Rob Wilson was called for cross checking in the 54th minute, Billingham made the most of the man advantage and it was James Moss who finally put the puck away after a scramble around Lawson’s net a minute later.
The final four minutes belonged to the visitors who tried to grab a winner, and were denied a gilt-edged opportunity when linesman Craig Davidson incorrectly called offside with the Stars three-on-one.
Billingham director of coaching Terry Ward was pleased to see his side grind out a point on a difficult playing surface.
“I think the ice dictated the game, it was choppy - the guys did well to control the puck on both sides,” he said. “We made a game of it - we were getting beaten 1-0 in the first period, maybe a bit against the run of play.
“Second period we tidied it up. We knew our chance would come in the third because we knew we’d have the legs on them and we did.
“I think a one-all draw is probably a fair result because they had chances and we had chances.
“It was an open, scrappy game because of the ice.
“We played the lines and players we did because we wanted to get a result.
“We knew we’d need all the experienced guys out there - I think that paid off in the end.”
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