Whitley Bay Warrior U18 vs Manchester Phoenix U18

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Sunday 29th January 2012

The longest away trip of the season, a cold day, an even colder rink and ice like a ploughed field, we have a relatively full bench again today with 1 missing with ENL and 1 having a 16`s game.

Phoenix started brightly but the home side quickly got into their rhythm forcing Paddy into an early save after 1.18.

The first penalty to the home side came after 4.24 but we failed to gain any decent possession and didn’t manage a shot in anger.

The first goal to Whitley came after 6.37, a fine passing move, this would prove to be a familiar story today.

The home side then had a “goal” disallowed after 8.50, it looked a perfectly good goal from the stands.

The best passing move for Phoenix came on 11.20 between Lee and Warren ending with a scuffed shot.

Whitley scored again after 12.16, Phoenix failing to clear after an early shot had hit the top of our net and bounced down behind.

Phoenix finished the period better, Scott forced a couple of saves, the home side had a couple more penalties but were generally in control and at 0-2 this was better than it may have been.

Phoenix started the 2nd period on powerplay for a few seconds only then Paddy was called into more saves before Whitley scored again after 22.13 another fine passing move and goal.

The puck was now starting to get held up in the “snow” on the ice!!

The 4th home goal came after 25.35 a 2 on 1 breakaway, followed by a 5th on 30.02 and a 6th on 32.04, all goals involving a fine passing move by Whitley.

Paddy was making save after save now as the home side completely dominated.

Phoenix had there first penalty after 38.14, this allowed the home side to finish the period with a 7th goal after 39.34, this was 0-5 in the period and 0-7 overall.

Phoenix had a better start to the final period and forced a couple of shots by Bez, then our plague of the penalties came back after 46.27 with Phoenix receiving a 5 minute major for fighting and ejection from the game, we had 4 v 3 but didn’t mount anything attacking, then as the home side had penalties complete we became 4 v 5 and the inevitable happened.

Whitley scored goals 8 & 9 during this penalty, so Phoenix had gone from an even period to conceding goals again.

The 10th goal came after 54.32.

Phoenix best passage of play came with 2.30 remaining and ended with a shot just about saved by the home netminder, obviously boredom didn’t affect his concentration.

The final goal for Whitley came after 58.50 and rounded off a thoroughly miserable day at 0-11.

Phoenix were only in contention partly during the first period and were totally outplayed by a good side but we have leaked a lot of goals again in clusters and 3 conceded on PK.

The home side passed the puck really well considering the quality of the ice surface and peppered our net with shot after shot, Phoenix were abhorrent as an attacking force having less than 10 shots for the whole game, in reality Phoenix were lucky to get nil today...

The spirit of the game went to Lee Pollitt.

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