Div 1  Billingham 6 v Shadows 7

The final road trip, indeed final game of 2011 for Div 1 and what was going to be a physical encounter as it always is against a strong Billingham team.

The two teams will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season as they are, in my opinion a bit like a netminders ears…….by that I mean there’s very little between them!

A chance for Shadows to cement there position at the top of the league ready for the Xmas and New Year break.

Again, Shadows needed to be off to a flying start, we’d scored within the first two minutes against Blackburn and Whitley, with the first going in in the Whitley game after an amazing 10 seconds.

Shadows didn’t disappoint on that level and were ahead after just 6 seconds, Hazel Wilson powering forward from the face-off to fire beneath the stand-in net minder Hammond.

If that wasn’t enough of a body blow for Billingham, they still hadn’t touched the puck when Shadows went 2 up after just 22 seconds! From the face off the puck fell to the stick of Steph Barker. Her pass sent Hazel off again and she placed the puck beyond the helpless minder.

It was a cracking start, and just what Shadows needed after a long, Xmas-themed journey up north. (I’m glad to report that player-coach Farman decided to leave her inappropriate headgear on the bus with the left-over pizza. I do however have photographic evidence of said headgear, and the negatives, so any offer of cash will be accepted to either show it or not!).

Sheffield had PP opportunities in the first as Billingham set their stall out for a feisty affair, but they went further ahead short-handed on 5:03 after Katie Firth had been sin-binned for a trip. Kirsten Grimes and Emma Brown were involved with assists on the goal, scored by Georgina Farman.

So three up inside five and a half minutes, and it was all going so well; just what happened next will take some explaining, as within a five minute spell the deficit was overturned!

At 8;02 the very impressive Hannah Maurice was sent on a run by Jenny Mehir and fired the puck home off both posts for 1-3. 12:32 saw an unassisted goal for Steph Box as the puck went straight through Potter in the Shadows net for 2-3.

The turn around was complete on 13:49 as Rachel Stockdale, picked up a fortunate rebound that appeared to have come off Potters’ helmet for an unassisted equalizer.

Farman’s second, a PP goal for Shadows (16:31), put the visitors back in front before the break with further assist recorded for Hazel Wilson and Steph Barker, but it was all square again within seconds, Box turning provider for Amy Campbell from close range.

A frantic first period finished 4-4,  but just how, I’ll never know.

The second was another close affair, with Shadows just edging it.

Georgina Farman completed a straight hat-trick on 27:53 to put Shadows ahead again, but Billingham took advantage of the PP, called against Lucy Lickman for tripping, to equalise on31:43.

Shadows again took the lead in this ding-dong game on 34:59 when Hazel Wilson completed her hat-trick, firing home after a good run. Assists went to Steph Barker and Emma Allender.

The second finished 6-5 in Shadows favour, and it really was anyone’s game going into the third.

Just 27 seconds from the face-off it was 6-6 and squeaky bum time again. Fiona Hennessy was lucky to be still on the ice after a body check on Lauren Scruby in the opening period had been called as interference. It was Hennessy however, who tied it up after a pass from Samantha Emmerson had caught Shadows off-guard from the face off.

It was all hands on deck for both teams now and they both went hell for leather to get the winner. An injury to Emma Allender following a heavy check into the boards caused some concern for Shadows and the lines were temporarily shuffled as she received treatment.

It really was end to end stuff and Sheffield were handed a lifeline on 49:06 when Maurice did herself and her team no favours by taking a 10 minute misconduct penalty for a bit of un-Christmassy chat with the ref.

Shadows edged ahead again on 55:18 when Hazel Wilson grabbed her fourth and Sheffield’s 7th, the assists going to Lucy Lickman and Katie Firth.

Billingham threw everything at Sheffield in the closing stages, but just didn’t have that bit a quality until Maurice returned to the ice with 35 seconds left. She was closest to getting the draw, but was denied by Potter at the death.

The relief was evident for all to see as far as Shadows were concerned as the hooter signaled the end of one of the better games I’ve seen in a few years. But two points is two points, however we get them in the end.

So, Shadows go into the year-end break sitting on top of the pile, albeit Hull having a game in hand on them. A cracking end to the year, and plenty to look forward to in 2012.

Merry Xmas!

Hank

Hank Marvin (Sheffield Shadows Reporter)