Mixed fortunes for Billingham Stars saw them loose 4 -2 away to Telford Titans on Saturday night then less than twenty four hours later the Stars returned to home ice action on Sunday with an dominating 8 – 3 victory over Solihull Barons.
Following a goal free first session, Telford Titans opened the scoring 3 minutes into the second. Billingham pegged them back five minutes later with a James Moss power play opener.
On the halfway mark Telford moved a goal ahead, and then with 32 seconds to play in the second Telford extended their haul to 3.
Stars Adam Robinson reduced Titans lead 2 minutes into the third assisted by James Udell. With Stars looked the stronger in the third, until a roughing call against Andy Finn and a bench penalty for reacting to the call cancelled the Stars momentum and they found themselves on the wrong end of a Titans 5 on 3 power play goal.
With Billingham back to full strength the Stars again pushed the Titans, with just under 3 minutes to play the referee called an illegal equipment call against Richie Thornton due to his helmet strap becoming unfastened, again Stars momentum was lost and Titans hit their fourth on the resulting power play.
As Stars returned to full strength they opted to pull the keeper for the remaining 38 seconds without success. Billinghams Martyn Davies took the Stars man of the match.
Stars Coach Terry Ward was frustrated with his sides finishing;
“We lacked a clinical finish, the shots we made were too predictable, the lads worked hard but we should have had more than 2 goals from 48 shots”
Ward and Foster were blunt in their pre game talk before the Solihull game, Stephen Foster conceded that as the Stars push for the league title they may have to cut to three lines;
“We used 4 line hockey to great effect earlier in the season, but since Christmas we have lacked our killer instinct”.
“We told the lads that we expect them to earn their next shift, we cant afford players to become complacent because they think their line is next up, we need them to go on the ice dish out some hits, back check and fore check, we explained if they are not performing they could face sitting shifts out”.
“We have trained the players to the systems that we practice especially power plays, and this weekend we insisted that they stick to the systems”.
“Six power play goals this weekend is a huge improvement”.
Sunday’s visitors were bottom of the tableSolihullwho travelled with a full 21 man squad.
A heated start saw Stars Anthony Price and Barons Andy Ayers drop their gloves, however Billingham were first off the mark with a Paul Windridge power play opener in the eighth minute.
A Ross Hanlon scorcher from the point and a marker from Simon Hehir gave the Stars an untouchable 3 goal lead into the first break.
Scott Ward moved the home side further ahead early in the second, four minutes later Stars Andy Finn and Barons Rob Eley had a set too collecting 2 + 2 each for roughing.
Just past the half way point Stars Ben Davison hit the home sides 5th unanswered goal. A boarding call against Barons Thomas Parker eaned him a match penalty and an early shower after Stars Graham Robson took an awkward impact with the boards that put him out of the game.
The third opened withSolihull import Erik Bakalar stretching the net, but two quick Andy Fletcher goals within a minute of each other brought the visitors back to earth with a bump.
Ross Hanlon and Barons Rob Eley were next to go toe to toe and collected triple 2 minute minors for roughing. With less than 8 minutes to play Barons skipper Adam Andrews netted a second for the visitors.
Barons were called for an import infringement when both imports Erik Bakaler and Canadian Michael Rodger iced at the same time.
Stars James Moss hit the home sides eighth goal another power play effort assisted by James Udell, Barons Rob Eley had his third fight of the night when he squared up with Stars Matt Sellars (2+2 Roughing) and then with 2 minutes to play a consolation marker for the visitors was fired home by Barons Lee Winwood. Ben Davison took stars Man of the Match.
A delighted Stephen Foster was pleased with his side’s home performance;
“We were much improved tonight; the high scoring game has lifted morale after our defeat atTelford”
“We have worked hard on special teams and that may be something we stick with dedicated power play and penalty kill lines rather than just putting out the regular lines in rotation”.
"Tonights game had a bit of everything, the whole team worked hard, there were goals galore and four fights ".
A win for North east rivals Whitley Warriors means the Stars remain 5 points clear at the top, but have lost their game in hand advantage.
Shots on Goal at Telford
On the Billingham net 40.
On the Telford net 43.
Stars Stas : Adam Robinson 1 + 1, James Moss 1 + 0, James Udell 0 + 2.
Shots on goal v Solihull
On the Billingham net 26
On Hewitt in the Solihul net 36, On Laverick 13 Total 49
Stars Stats Andy Fletcher 2 + 1, Paul Windridge 1 + 2, Scott Ward 1 + 2, Simon Hehir 1 +2, James Moss 1 + 1, Ben Davison 1 + 0,Ross Hanlon 1 + 0, James Udell 0 + 1, Adam Robinson 0 + 1, Anthony Price 0 + 1.
