Billingham Bombers ran out 5- 2 winners against Blackburn Hawks in a physical encounter at Billingham Forum Ice Arena. However Bombers joy was short lived as Coventry Blaze pulled off an unexpected 3 – 2 win at Whitley Bay and the battle for the final play off slot remains deadlocked with the last games of the season being the decider next weekend.

A superb start for the Bombers saw them hit three unanswered goals by the tenth minute.

A well worked opening Bombers goal saw Simon Hehir pass out from behind to Ricky Box who opened the Bombers account. Two minutes later Scott Ward applied a clinical finish as he dragged the puck around the committed Blackburn keeper and fired home on his backhand. A minute later a solo effort from Bombers Anthony Price saw him dispossess a Blackburn player behind the Hawks net, skate out front and blast the Bombers into a three goal lead.

The Bombers held onto their advantage, as Blackburn turned up the physical side of their game. Hawks brought the Bombers down as Sam Dunford broke away, firing a long range shot to open the visitors account.

A boarding call against Les Millie handed the Bombers an advantage and the Teessider’s were unlucky not to convert when Garry Dowd released a blistering slap shot that Michie deflected.

As the second wound down a well placed Paul Windridge pass picked out Richie Thornton who crossed into the Hawks zone before blasting Bombers fourth.
Early in the third Blackburn’s David Miekle was awarded a goal disputed by the Bombers who argued the goal went in off a Blackburn skate, referee Steve Brown consulted his linesmen and the goal stood.

As the third played out Blackburn again turned up the physical side of their play and put pressure on the Bombers. With only 9 seconds on the clock Bombers went short handed, Blackburn Player/ Coach Neil Abel pulled his goalie to gain a 6 on 4 advantage, however Andy Fletcher released man of the match Scott Ward from the face off, and Ward skated over the red line, and bagged an empty net goal, and a win for the Bombers.

Bombers Coach Terry Ward praised his side’s performance
“Everyone on the ice gave what was required, we did not have a full bench, but everyone gave 100% that’s all that counts”

With Coventry beating Whitley 3 - 2, and Billingham and Coventry now level on 25 points, the Bombers know that a win against the Whitley Warriors will be required, as Coventry look likely to take points of Blackburn next weekend.

Bombers manager Allen Flavell believes that a win against Whitley is a tall order.

“It’s ironic that it all hinges on the last game of the season, and it sums our luck up that we will up against the Warriors, the team that has inflicted our biggest defeat of the season”

“If the lads play the way they did tonight, anything is possible”

Bombers points scorers; Ward 2 + 1, R Thornton 1 + 0, Box 1 + 0, Price 1 + 0, Hehir 0 + 2, Fletcher 0 + 2, Windridge 0 + 1.