Warriors dominated the opening minutes but Billingham`s defences held tight and the first closed without score.

Warriors turned up the heat in the opening of the second and were 2 – 0 up within seven minutes. Bombers Jamie Pattison and Whitley’s DJ Good went toe to toe with Pattison winning on points.

At the halfway mark the Warriors looked to have put the game beyond the Bombers with a third unanswered goal.

The Bombers fight back began when Stuart Gibbon hit their opener to close the second with the score standing at Bombers 1 Whitley 3.

Early in the third session a gritty performance in front of the Whitley net by Bombers young star Ben Davison saw him force home the puck assisted by Ollie Lomax. With less than 10 minutes left to play Bombers lifted the home fans to their feet as Simon Hehir blasted home, to tie the game and put the Bombers back in contention.

Whitley were not on Teesside to do the Bombers any favours and evidence of that dealt a cruel blow, when with only six minutes to play Warriors moved ahead.

As time was running out to grab an equaliser the Bombers called on all reserves of energy as they pushed to cut the Whitley lead, Billingham pulled their goalie with just over a minute to play, again the Bombers tried to work their advantage to no avail and when the final buzzer sounded a number of Billingham players collapsed to the ice, exhausted having given everything in an intense, exciting battle.


A disappointed Terry Ward said getting to the play offs is not about winning single games;

“We did not miss out on the play offs by losing this game, we know there were certain games earlier in the season that cost us our play off slot.

“It's tough on the players and the club, now we must turn our attentions to getting some ice for next season”

Bombers manager Allen Flavell echoed Wards sentiment;

“If that game does not leave people hungry for Ice Hockey then I don’t know what would”

“We went into the game with our eyes open, we knew it was a tall order and we came within six minutes of our play off slot, I agree with Terry we now need to channel our efforts into talks with all parties concerned to get some continuity of ice whilst the Forum is refurbished”.

Coventry secured the fourth play off slot by a single point following a dramatic fight back by Blackburn Hawks who came back from 4-1 down to tie their game in Coventry.

Sheffield Spartans snatched the ENL Div 1 (North) title from Nottingham as they ran out 7 – 2 winners at Kingston in their final game of the season.

Paul Windridge announced that after 26 years in a Billingham shirt, this would be his testimonial season. On Sunday 3rd May 09 the Bombers will face off against a select side of Bombers former stars, including Mark Pallister and Andre Malo plus many other stars from the history of Billingham Ice Hockey.