Billingham Bombers v Blackburn Hawks – Sunday 28 September 2003.

On Sunday 28 September 2003 the Bombers welcomed the players supporters and officials of Blackburn Hawks.

Unfortunately for the Bombers a clash of fixtures between seniors and under 19s resulted in a short bench, this was further compounded by the unavailability of a number of players. Stephen V – on holiday, Hehir + Lewis – working, the inclusion of Craig Hill and Anthony Price and Lee Fletcher, served to bolster the bombers to eleven out field skaters with Simon Burns in goal.

It seemed that the Bombers would have their work cut out against a strengthened Blackburn team that had 19 players dressed.

First Period

The Bombers started well maintaining possession and attacking Colin Downie in the Blackburn net, however the good start was to no avail as Bryan Perry found himself called for a 2 minute hooking call at 3:27. The penalty against the Bombers got underway, however the Hawks soon lost their advantage as they were called for a 2-minute interference at 3:56. Play returned to even strength and it was then that the Bombers pressure netted them the opening goal of the game, that came when a Paul Windridge pass allowed Bryan Perry to skate onto Colin Downie, waiting for Downie to commit himself, Perry deked around the sprawling keeper and lifted a back hand shot into the net.

Throughout the remainder of the first the Bombers were the team in control, neat passing and good positional play kept Blackburn skating backwards. The Hawks Wes Barnett was called for a 2 minute hooking penalty at 17:37.

The Bombers were still out shooting the Hawks and looking the more comfortable of the 2 sides, as the Bombers took up positions in the Blackburn zone some good puck rotation kept the keeper guessing as to where the shot would come from, when it did come it was driven with force as David Thomas sent a blistering shot into a goal front melee, a tip was applied to deflect the shot by Scott Ward and the Bombers were pulling away from the Hawks.

The first closed Billingham Bombers 2: Blackburn Hawks 0

Second Period

The second opened and we hoped that the short-benched Bombers side could find the reserves of energy to keep Blackburn at bay.

The Bombers went short handed at 26:41 when David Thomas was called for a 2-minute interference call. The penalty was cancelled out 9 seconds later as Hawks Chris Black was called for hooking. However the Hawks were soon to enjoy a further power play as a 2 minute call against Phillip Pritchard for slashing cut the Bombers down to 3 men v Blackburn’s 4. This time Blackburn made no mistake and they got their opener at 29:59 a power play goal scored by Chris Black with assists to Wes Barnett and Neal Hawthorn.

With Blackburn now enjoying the benefits of its bigger bench the Bombers found them selves on the back foot as the Hawks applied the pressure seeking to level the score. At 35:09 they drew level with the Bombers as veteran Bobby Haig fired home assisted by Chris Black and Neal Hawthorn. Bombers Bryan Perry was called for a roughing penalty at 38:04 handing the Hawks another short lived power play as Neal Hawthorn collected a 2 + 10 for cross checking from behind at 38:31.

The second closed Billingham Bombers 2: Blackburn Hawks 2

Third Period

The third was under 2 minutes underway as Bombers Andy Thornton was released by a well placed pass from Ian Richardson, skating onto Colin Downie, Thornton released a powerful wrist shot that Downie blocked, however the Blackburn keeper could not hang onto the puck and the rebound fell into the path of the approaching Andy Thornton who made no mistake the second time and buried it past Downie to give the Bombers the go – ahead goal.

With the Bombers still finding the direction of the game going there way a goal that came against the run of play gave Blackburn their lift back into the game at 53:34 as a combination of Haig and Sheffield released Wes Barnett to draw the game level.

Tempers flared at 55:04 when Brian Perry retaliated for a high stick to the face with a slash that developed into a roughing penalty, Bryan found himself called for a 2 min slash, 2 minutes roughing and a 10 min misconduct for dropping his gloves. For Blackburn’s Neal Hawthorn his infringements meant he was taking an early shower as he collected a 2 minute high sticks plus a 2 minute roughing + a 10 minute misconduct for dropping his gloves, this combined with his earlier 10 minute penalty for cross checking from behind meant he collected a game misconduct.

The third closed Billingham Bombers 3: Blackburn Hawks 3

A battling performance of determination and endurance, that went way above anticipations based on our short bench and missing players.

Speaking to Terry after the game he stated that each player on the bench tonight had given 110 %, he added that following that type of commitment the score was secondary, winning is the aim but to push a bench that size all the way to the 53rd minute showed the true metal of all the Billingham boys.

Man of the match for the Bombers went to Simon Burns.