BILLINGHAM EAGLES V
NOTTINGHAM LIONS
ED1 NORTH
22ND JANUARY 2000
Saturday 22nd January 2000 saw the Eagles welcome the players , fans and officials of the Nottingham Lions. The Lions came to the Forum hoping to maul 2 points of the runaway Eagles and make sure of a play off place for themselves.
1st Period
The first opened with the Eagles finding themselves on the wrong end of a 2 minute cross check penalty, the penalty was played off without loss. Eagles again found themselves a man short at 3:48 when Gary Dowd sat for a 2 minute slashing penalty. Nottingham had the better of the early chances finding the Eagles pipe work in the fifth minute. At 11:38 Notingham opened their account when Stefan Dodwell put away a puck that had deflected from Andy Fletchers skate. Billingham got the puck into the Nottingham slot numerous times but no one was there to provide the finnishing touch. At 17:21 Brian Perry opened the Eagles account assisted by Paul Winndridge when he fired home a close range shot. The first period was dominated by the efforts of Nottinghams net minder Allan Lears.The first closed Eagles 1 : Lions 1.
2nd Period
Tom Brown edged Eagles ahead at 21:11 when he fired home a wrist shot from the blue line assisted by Martin Lewis.Nottingham went a man short when Lofthouse collected a 2 minute interference penalty. Eagles got their third at 23:34 a power play goal scored as the Eagles laid siege to the Nottingham zone and some excellent passing allowed Tom Brown to blast home assisted by Paul Winndridge and Brian Perry. At 26: 38.Tom Brown cruised to the Nottingham net checking his options , he had Fletch powering in to to his left, in an instant he drew the puck in closer swapped it onto his back hand and fired to score his third of the game a short haded goal unassisted at 26:38. Nottingham pulled one back a power play goal at 27:18 to make the score Eagles 4 : Lions 2. Nottingham collected a 2 minute interference penalty at 27:39. Eagles hit penalty trouble at 30:37 when Tom Brown collected a 2 minute slashing penalty. Nottingham capitilised with a power play goal at 32:08.Another penalty for the Eagles saw them go short handed to be punished at 33:37 when Mark Levers scored to levell the game at 4 each. 34:39 saw Tom Brown get his fourth of the game when he scored assisted by Simon Hehir. Alan Lears continued his superb performance in the Nottingham goal as he saved two shots from different angles one straight after another. A Nottingham breakaway came to nothing, the resulting interference on Eagles net minder Adam Flett went uncalled , however Brian Perry picked up a 2 minute roughing penalty.Nottingham tied it with a disputed goal at 37:39, the goal was awarded and in the ensuing conversation Eagles Si Burns picked up a 10 + Game penalty for abuse of an official.Brian Perry pushed the Eagles ahead at 38:39 when he weaved through the Lions defence to make it Eagles 6 : Lions 5 assisted by Gary Dowd.The second closed Eagles 5 : Lions 4.
3rd Period
The third opened with another Eagles penalty Gary Dowd 2 minutes boarding. Andy Fletcher found himself one on one with the Nottingham keeper unfortunatley his final touch let him down. As things started to get niggly Nottingham collected a 2 minute interference penalty. With under 3 minutes left on the clock Tom Brown fired home on the power play assisted by Paul Winndridge. At 56:30 Nottingham called a time out, the result of that time out was that they called for the ref to measure the stick of Tom Brown , the measure took place and Tom collected a 2 minute illegal equipment penalty.58:43 saw Nottingham pull it back to within one goal of the Eagles when they scored on the power play. Tom Brown rejoined the game only to collect a 2 minute boarding penalty , with Nottingham trailing by one and having a power play, the Lions pulled their keper, the game faced off in the Eagles zone, Eagles won the face off and the puck was passed back to Gary Dowd who released a rink length shot to score on the empty net to make it Eagles 8: Lions 6. The ensuing mayhem that descended as fights and skirmishes broke out across the rink left the officials chasing their own tails, if some of the spoiling tactics of Nottinghams Lofthouse on Paul Winndridge had been brought to task in the first or second they may have been able to keep a lid on it .Nottinghams Lofthouse received a 5 + Game for spearing , Eagles Paul Winndridge 5+ Game for roughing , Ian Richardson 5 + Game for roughing , Brian Perry 5 + Game for roughing . The delay in the restart and the reluctance of Lofthouse to make his way unescorted to the dressing rooms left a few minutes spare for Gary Dowd to entertain the crowd with his Ravenelli celebrations when his goal was announced. the third closed Eagles 8 : Lions 6.
PERIOD SCORES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | FINAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| NOTTINGHAM | 1 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
SHOTS ON GOAL
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 10 | 11 | 12 | 33 |
| NOTTINGHAM | 14 | 31 | 24 | 69 |
PENALTIES
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | TOTAL | |
| BILLINGHAM | 4 | 20+g | 21+3xg | 45 + 4x game |
| NOTTINGHAM | 0 | 6 | 9 + g | 15 + game |
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARDS
EAGLES - ADAM FLETT
LIONS - ALAN LEARS
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