A midweek fixture put the Bombers on the road to Newcastle Vipers ENL. With 3 wins from four ,Bombers topped off with a 7 – 0 shutout against bottom placed Newcastle.

Billingham were first off the mark as Andy Fletcher picked out Windridge who put home the only goal of the first session.

A tripping call against Vipers Darren Shanks put the Bombers on the power play, Jimmy Moutrey took it behind the Vipers net and released a pass to Ollie Lomax who blasted through the crowd as he moved in from the point.

Bombers made it three following some dithering in defence by Newcastle’s new signing Mike Allison that allowed Andy Thornton to pick his pockets in front of the Newcastle goal and fire home unassisted.

At 3 – 0 down Vipers swapped goalies putting veteran goalie Stephen Foster in the pipes. As play resumed vipers Graeme Robson was thrown out following a high stick to the face of Bombers Ricky Box that drew blood. As the second session wound down Windridge netted his second assisted by Hehir with the Bombers in control of a comfortable 4 – 0 lead.

The third opened and it became clear that Billingham’s Ricky Box and Newcastle’s Matt Hinkley had scores to settle, Hinkley retreated to his bench to be replaced by large defender Callum Hewitt who got the better of Box after a brief exchange of punches.

Not deterred Box gets up ,dusts himself down and again invites Hinckley back to the ice, Hinkley shows no interest in fighting, but Vipers Karl Nilson squares up to Box, after a prolonged centre ice battle the players are separated and penalties assessed. A match penalty for Karl Nilson, a 5 minute penalty for Callum Hewitt with Ricky Box picking up 10 + 2 +2 for misconduct and roughing.

With the penalties benefiting the Bombers, Vipers resistance crumbled, Andy Thornton nailed his second with a long range power play blast from the point, Paul Windridge made it six unanswered goals as he secured his hat trick and Scott Ward set up Ollie Lomax who blasted from the point.