Billingham Stars battled back for a share of the points in a 3-3 draw against Sheffield Spartans in their final NIHL league game of the season
By Andy Baxter
Billingham Stars battled back for a share of the points in a 3-3 draw against Sheffield Spartans in their final NIHL league game of the season.
Billingham, sponsored by Ultimate Windows, made their first attack count as Stephen Wallace scored after only 29 seconds of play after good set up work from Bowman and Windridge.
Both sides had full benches but Ward and Bowman elected to give the youngsters plenty of ice time as the ice appeared to be tilting the way of the Stars. However the Spartans turned the tables in the 13th minute when Ollie Barron forced home an equaliser as the first period ended all square.
The second opened at pace and five minutes in the visitors took the lead through Sam Jones who pounced on a loose puck.
Sheffield turned up the heat and passed the puck well until it was intercepted by Cal Davies who picked out Elder to set up Michael Bowman who skated in to net a short hander and equalise against the flow of the game.
Four minutes later Sheffield’s Scott Morris restored the visitors lead to close the second session with the Spartans 3-2 ahead.
The Spartans swapped net minders with Bradley Day giving way to Ben Churchfield for the third session. Stars sent in some long range shots but Churchfield dealt with them.
Then Wallace threaded his way to the front of the Sheffield goal. The puck fell to him and he lifted it high from close range, and although he took a stick to the face from Spartans’ Doug Jordan, Wallace hit the the floor, the puck hit the back of the net and the goal stood.
But Wallace was furious at the stick to the face. After a delay the penalties were drawn up. Jordan collected five for his high stick, and Wallace 10 for abuse of an official.
The clock counted down to a 3-3 draw as the points were shared.
Terry Ward was pleased to have some key players back. He said: “We played really well, their keeper played exceptionally well - he deserved his Man of the Match. He stopped everything we threw at him, with some outstanding saves close in.
“It’s nice to have players back. It’s made a big difference to the team. It’s nice for them to get a game under their belts, especially someone like Andy Finn who has been injured long-term, it’s great to see him back because he is a presence on the ice.
“We tried to get the youngsters on the fourth line. We wanted a win the last home game. Wallace scored a lovely goal, but for his efforts he got a stick in the face.
“Third place is a good achievement - the league has developed a lot. Blackburn have spent a lot of money this year, Solway have too - they probably have the best two imports in the league and that doesn’t come cheap. So there has been money pumped into those teams and the likes of Sutton as well.
“Considering the injuries we have had we’ve battled back from a low point and got wins that have got us to the play offs. I’d say it’s been a good season from that point of view.
“We want to go to the play-offs with a fully fit full strength team. We owe Blackburn - we were desperately short last time we played them both here and in Blackburn - we need to up our game, the lads are up for it already, we know we owe them a game”.
Spartans coach Martin White said: “It’s nice to get a point - it’s always tough to come to Billingham.”
Stars complete the KD Flavell Welding Trophy campaign at Manchester on Saturday.
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