Arms fire on all cylinders to overcome South Moor
Braves show their Steel to prevail JUNIOR ICE HOCKEY SUNDAY LEAGUE
WHITLEY Braves edged a thrilling English Under-18 North Division Two League encounter against Sheffield Steel City Scorpions 3-2.
Hosts Sheffield were short-handed in the opening minute but the Braves were unable to take advantage of it.
They did go ahead at 04.32, however, Ethan McLaughlin scoring his second goal of the season with Thomas Fraser picking up the assist.
The Scorpions were back on level terms only 23 seconds later through Hadden Bolstridge.
The hosts took a 2-1 lead with Bostridge’s second goal of the game at 09.31 - only for the Braves to restore parity 62 seconds later with Fraser the goalscorer, McLaughlin and Jack Rowley claiming the assists.
There was no more scoring in the opening period as it remained 2-2, Bobby Campbell in the Braves’ net keeping the Scorpions at bay.
It was nip and tuck in the middle period and there was just one goal to show for both team’s efforts - and it went the way of the Braves as Fraser and McLaughlin set up Alex Nergaard to restore the lead at 32.38.
Sheffield tied the scores when Harry Currell found the net at 45.57 for 3-3.
The visitors had a two-man advantage on the powerplay and made the numerical advantage work in their favour - Nergaard on target for his fourth goal of the season at 51.39 and Fraser registering his third assist of the game.
Sheffield found them hampered by further penalties as Nathaniel Bradford and Jacob King talked themselves into receiving ten-minute misconduct bans and played no further part in the match.
However, they drew level at 53.08 when still short-handed thanks to a Charlie Davenport strike.
There was still time, however, for the Braves to seal both points with a winning goal.
That fell to Fraser at 58.31 with his second of the game, Nergaard and Adam Harrison picking up the assists.
Fraser has now scored 22 goals for the Braves this season and six assists making him joint top scorer in the division.
For the final 71 seconds Sheffield pulled their netminder as they looked for an equaliser but the Braves held on for a narrow win to stay in third place. ■■MORE junior ice hockey in tomorrow night’s Grassroots Sport. SCOTCH Arms defeated South Moor Sports 9-1 in Division One, Andrew Rennoldson and Dan Walker each scoring four times.
Andrew Whitfield added Arms’ other counter, Liam Orr replying for South Moor.
Lanchester CC’s victory over Oxhill Central was much narrower - 4-3.
Steven Smithson (2), Jack Newton and John Lawson notched for Lanchester, Gav Clews, Jon Davies and Kieron Gohery for Oxhill.
Blackhall Mill and Chopwell overcame Winlaton Crown and Cannon 4-1 thanks to goals from Scott Johnson (2), Dean Hendry and Derek Waters, Matty Grayson with Crown and Cannon’s consolation.
Tantobie Oak Tree and Consett The Barn drew 2-2 Ben Harvey and Sam Harvey for Oak Tree and Rob McConnell and Dan Castro for the Barn.
In Division Two, Stanley RAFA were emphatic 6-2 victors against Crookhall Beck.
On target for RAFA were Stephen Bone, Adam Palmer, Adam Milburn, Jamie Armstrong
Paul Kendall and Dan Smailes, Matty Connor with a brace for the Beck.
Dan Dobson, Shaun Swift and Tom Illingworth netted for Bird Inn in their 3-1 success at Stanley imperial, for whom Craig Stephens was on the mark.
Jack Watson (4) and Jake Hall were West Kyo Earl Grey’s marksmen in their 5-1 result against Real Vulcan Winlaton, Darren Heath replying.
Castleside Horse and Groom defeated Shotley Cricketers 4-3, Michael Brown (3) and Tony Gilson notching for the victors, Michael Toomer (2) and Greg Paterson on the mark for Cricketers.