Raiding Warriors lift the points
Trafford Metros 1 – 3 Whitley Warriors
Winning this game was vital for the aspirations of both teams. A Warriors win would make their following day’s home game against the Nottingham Lions the virtual Division One Championship decider. A win for the Metros would put pressure back onto the Blackburn Hawks in the battle to move out of the relegation game slot. In a tense encounter, with Whitley pressing the home defence for much of the game, the Mets went ahead after 25 minutes and held on until, with eight minutes left, a power-play goal gave the Warriors the relief and impetus that they’d been looking for all evening. A second quick goal followed by an empty-netter with fifteen seconds remaining gave them their victory.
The game began with the Warriors, volubly encouraged by their large travelling support, pressing the home net. The Mets’ defence held firm with Declan Ryan, once more, having an outstanding game between the pipes. As the period progressed Trafford recovered their composure and started to move with forward with more confidence into the Whitley zone. In the last couple of minutes before the buzzer, the only penalty of the period was called on the Warriors for slashing. Despite the man advantage, Trafford couldn’t find a way passed James Flavell in the Whitley goal.
The second period continued in a similar manner to the first with Whitley shooting whenever possible. After four minutes, a Warriors’ raid was broken up by Jamie Rogerson who passed to Tom Hurley on the right wing, the pair moved quickly up the ice with the Warriors’ defence tracking back equally as fast. Hurley passed into the slot, Rogerson found Flavell’s five-hole and the delighted Mets were one up. Whitley turned up the shooting heat but the home confidence was riding high and, despite being outshot 22 : 7 in the period, they looked, in the circumstances, remarkably comfortable; even defending the only two penalties called.
The third period continued in the same manner as the previous 40 minutes, with both sets of fans biting their nails in anticpation. But, at10.26 into the a Whitley foray down the Mets’ left drew a tripping minor. After holding firm for 90 seconds of the penalty, Trafford conceded to a close range shot from Simon Leach, assisted by Paul Windridge and Adam Reynolds. The travelling fans had waited over 50 minutes for this and were clearly delighted. They were to be even more delighted a minute and a half later when the same line put the Warriors into the lead: this time Reynolds scored, assisted by his line-mates. Trafford re-grouped and pushed back as hard as they could but couldn’t get light the lamp. Ryan was withdrawn in favour of the extra attacker with 30 seconds remaining, but the usual suspects combined, once more, for Simon Leach to net the insurance goal with 15 seconds remaining. After what had been a cracking game for the spectators, a delighted Warriors party left Altrincham keenly anticipating the following day’s encounter with Nottingham at Hillheads. The Mets left contemplating what might have been had they managed to hang on for just eight more minutes!
A Metros’ spokesman said: “What a superb game for all concerned. Very competitive, but very sporting and very skilfully played. It was a credit to both teams and great for the spectators. There were just eight minutes of penalties called all game. The Metros team played really well and never looked rattled, even when they went behind. Apart from Tom King’s great game, Max Drakeley and Brian Worrall had crackers as well and Declan Ryan was outstanding, keeping out 61 of the shots that he faced. We’ve got to concentrate and play in the same way for the remaining two league games against Coventry and hope that Nottingham and Telford can do us favours against Blackburn!”
Game Stats:
Game played: Saturday 6th March
Metros Man of the Match: Tom King
Shots on Goal (shots on Metros first): 24 - 64 (incl. 1 Empty net)
Penalty minutes: Metros 6 Warriors 2.
Metros’ stats: Jamie Rogerson 1+0, Tom Hurley 0+1.
Nets: Declan Ryan (59.52 mins) 63/2 96.83%
