Blackburn Hawks v Billingham Bombers v– Sunday 22 November 2003.

The Bombers faced the prospect of a weekend without influential Captain Paul Windridge who was sidelined through injury.
David Thomas had taken on the role of Captain.
Ian Richardson and Bryan Perry were still unable to ice due to other commitments.

The Hawks were fielding a full squad that included Bobby Haig, Craig Sharman and Adam Leaver.

The trip to Blackburn was delayed by a broken down bus. This made the Bombers late so a quick change and drop the puck resulted in little warm up time. Richard Griffiths started in goal for the Bombers giving Adam Flett time to dress.

First Period

The game got off to an excellent start for the Bombers when Martin Lewis commenced the scoring only 39 seconds into the game, assisted by Stephen Pritchard.

The Hawks responded to this goal and opened their account at 1:42 with a goal from Craig Sharman assisted by Lance Derbyshire and Matt Southall.

As play resumed the Bombers found themselves a man down as Andy Wells was called for a 2 minute interference penalty at 2:00.

The Hawks power play did not last long as Chris Black was called for an unsportsmanlike like penalty at 3:22.

The Hawks then moved ahead with a Bobby Haig goal scored at 3:58 assisted by David Sheffield.

The Hawks put the pressure on and Adam Flett was brought into the pipes for the Bombers.

The Billingham side were presented with a power play at 8:21 as Hawks Anthony Kinder took a 2 minute sit for roughing. The Hawks defended well and played off the penalty.

The Blackburn pressure continued and the Hawks again found the back of the Bombers net at 11:14 and then again at 14:04.

The Bombers clipped the Hawks wings as they reduced the deficit at 18:56 when Andy Thornton hit home assisted by Stuart Gibbon and James Udell.

The first closed Blackburn Hawks 4 Billingham Bombers 2

Second Period

The second started well for the Bombers as they netted early into the period when Stephen Pritchard scored assisted by Martin Lewis and Simon Hehir at 21:34

However Blackburn were not going to let the Bombers walk back into this game and Dave Sheffield scored for the Hawks assisted by Bobby Haig at 27:33.

The Hawks found themselves short handed as Chris Black picked up a 2 min roughing plus 10 minute misconduct call at 27:33.

The Bombers could make no progress and things started to get heated as an incident involving Scott Ward, Colin Downie and Hawks captain Neal Haworth resulted in Scott Ward and Neal Howarth squaring up to each other.

When the fighting had stopped for the Bombers Scott Ward received a 2 + 2 min roughing penalty plus a 10 minute misconduct penalty.

For Blackburn Neal Howarth received a 2 minute roughing plus 10 minute misconduct penalty and goalie Colin Downie collected a 2 minute roughing call.

The second closed Blackburn Hawks 5, Billingham Bombers 3.

Third Period

In the interval Terry informed the Bombers that they could still get back into this game.

However the Bombers started the third short handed and the Blackburn side made full use of the power play to score at 45:34, a power play goal from Wayne Slater assisted by Bobby Haig.

The Bombers then hit a run of penalties and collected a 2 min holding 45:09 Lee Fletcher then a 2 min tripping call at 48:10.

The Hawks hit a purple patch starting with a long range power play wrist shot from Bobby Haig unassisted at 50:00

Richard Griffiths replaced Adam Flett in the Bombers goal at 51:31.

The Hawks pushed their tally higher a minute later as Adam Fuller netted an even handed goal, then 34 seconds later Chris Black concluded the Hawks scoring at 52:05.

The game closed Blackburn Hawks 9, Billingham Bombers 3.

PERIOD SCORES	1st	2nd	3rd	TOTAL
BLACKBURN	4	1	4	9
BILLINGHAM	2	1	0	3

 

PENALTY MIN	1st	2nd	3rd	TOTAL
BLACKBURN	6	26	4	36
BILLINGHAM	2	18	6	26

SHOTS ON GOAL	1st	2nd	3rd	TOTAL
DOWNIE- BLACKBURN	10	8	10	28
GRIFFITHS BILLINGHAM	5	-	6	11
FLETT - BILLINGHAM	6	20	11	37