A VIEW FROM THE BLUE LINE
THIS PAGE COMES DIRECT FROM
NUMBER 57 IAN RICHARDSON
ED1 Play offs Let battle commence......
Who said you have to win pretty?
This week's two games where perhaps two of the most scrappy games we have played. Never the less, 2 wins take us to the top of the group.
Both games saw us do enough to win but little more.
The first encounter at Sunderland was a hard game, both physically and mentally.
It seemed like when we all came back to the dressing room, all the lads where aching and stiff.
A spearing, shot on the ankle and a knock to the elbow made me realise on Friday just what a bruising encounter it had been.
Some game appear to be very much a blur, and Thursday's game was a lot like that.
Saturday 19 Feb 2000 Reflections on retaining ED1 North title
Well that's the league taken care of, now brings the playoff's.
All credit and thanks to the lads at Bradford for making the trip. They never gave up and played 110% for the full sixty minutes.
Saturdays performance was a very methodical and focused effort, we knew what we had to do and that was to beat Bradford Comprehensively and not concede any, for Spike we knew we had to get his point tally up to ensure he was the top of the stats.
Without sounding complacent, the game was over from the drop of the first puck. The second line got the game off to a quick start bagging a goal within the first minute.
There is little you can say about a 20-0 win, that the score doesn't say on it's own. Martin Lewis linked well with Liam Thompson all evening to ensure both player racked a whole host of points.
The flair of Spike, Fletch and Wally ensured the fans saw some finesse as the lads played the puck around. The youngsters Scott Ward, Dale and Dj Flett did a good job all night, fighting for the puck, hitting and showing their true grit about the only thing they didn't do was score.
When Simon Hehier has to leave at the end of the first, Richie Thornton stepped up to play forward as he searched to lose his goal scoring "virginity." After what seemed like about "100" attempts ( only kidding Rich) he bagged his first of the season.
Filling Richie's place was the young Gareth Crinnion, who play a simple controlled game and didn't appear phased by his first real game as a senior.
Both Billingham Keepers had little to do all eve, and I am sure that both Flett and Hall were relieved to find they kept a clean sheet.
On a final note to the game, Spike played an outstanding game, despite, needing to score and handful he didn't play selfish at all and kept passing the puck on.
The playoffs are a whole different ball game, whilst we have beat every other team in the league, things can and do change in the playoffs. Every team knows, that each game is vitally important. This is the team, we need our fans.
I like to think maybe we can bring in more fans to support the lads.
If any of the fans out there have any ideas how we can get more fans in, then why not drop either Andy, or myself a line or leave a message on the guest book.
I know the lads love playing in front of a crowd, so lets make it big as we aim to retain the ED1 championship title.
23rd January 2000- Reflections on our game against Nottingham Lions.
All credit to Nottingham, they played some excellent hockey to curtail the score to just 8-6. Their young keeper seemed to be having a purple patch as he kept shot after shot out.
I think given a couple of years the team will be strong. They appear to be strong, determined and don't like to give up.
Ask any senior player over the age of 21 what their biggest gripe is about hockey, and must if not all will reply playing against facemasks. It seems absurd that at 18 you can vote ( perhaps having a profound effect on more lives than just your own), you can marry, buy a house, take out a loan, go to a pub (legally) and view adult material, but in the world of english hockey you still have to wear a mask !!The thought process behind it is dickensian.
You see it time and time again,season after season, as the so called "kids" are sent out to challenge the older player, the result can be very, very frustrating. Sticks go all over, helmets and visors flay around and so called "accidents" happen.
The game from the bench had to be one of the slowest and uninspiring to watch, so appologies to anyone in the stand. As I have said on more than one occassion this year, we seem to pick the pace up to what's needed, rather than anihilate teams like we did last season. Still needing just 2 points from three games is a position most teams would like to be in.
The fracas at the end started after Dowdy's scored the 8th goal from a slapshot from our goal line into the empty net.
Spike followed the puck up to pick up any rebound. After the goal skating back the "young" #26 for Nottingham, lifted his stick into Spike face cutting him.
Very few people saw it happening. Before anyone could see what was going on Spike cut and bleeding was down tussling with the Nottingham player.
With another scar for the collection and a pint or two less blood, the severity of the cut looked more like Spike was wearing an away shirt rather than a home one.
The ref seperated the two placing the Nott's player in the sin bin. Whilst Spiker was down on the floor he went on to basically extract the urine. laughing and goading spike, the crowd and his team.
Both Brian and I lost it, and it resulted in a now maskless Nott's player understanding what can happen to you if your not wearing a mask. Ok so it was a poor game, but the points came our way. PICTURES
Fingers crossed, the Eagles maybecome the second club team to dominate and win their league following the emphatic win of the U-19's.
Boy are we in for a hard weekend, Flintshire and the then up to the bay...... We owe Flintshire big style, following the opening game of the year.......I'll say no more.
As for Whitley, well Leachy is back and ,making them tick, this should be the best game of the season. I'd recommened that any fans who can travel up the A19 for what promises to be an "old style local derby"
16th January 2000- Reflections on our away game against Altrincham Aces.
How does Chris Chelios do it?
37 and still playing 60+ games a year, crunching, skating, I guess he's unlike most of us, unfit, and with an addiction to Lager.
Imagine my delight, when Dowdy gives me a call on Monday, to say he was aching like hell after the encounter with Altrincham. Yep, I might be a year older, but so was he...
Altrincham proved to be exactly as we expected, hard, dirty, "dodgy refereeing" and well fought.
The first period saw the Aces take the lead, both teams refused to give any ground and match was very end to end. The game was physical as the Aces followed through on every check and skated 100% for every puck. By the end of the first, a finely crafted goal from the omnipresent "Spike" pulled the game back to 1-1.
If you ever thought, Tom Brown gets angry on the ice , you want to see him when he gets a bee in his bonnet when he doesn't think we are playing to our full potential. A few choice words from the "Hulk" like Brown seemed to convinvce the boys that we needed to pick up the pace. and in the second, that's exactly what we did.
One thing for certain in Altrincham come Monday morning was that the post's would need repainting. Spike, Tom, Fletch, Lewis, Dowdy and Brian all "pinged" the post on more than one occassion each. The Vodoo hex placed on the goal by Ace keeper Higgins obviously doing it's job.
A goal from Tom gave us the "comfort" of a 2-1 lead into the third. The third period caught us napping, 3 unanswered goals left us trailing 4-2. and now was the time to start the fight back.
As ever the fight back was led by the "OLD" Captain Spike. Another precisionaly crafted goal from Spike pulled the game back to 4-3.
And then the game saw the arrival of "Pyscho" within minutes he managed to leave players strune across the ice, before slipping the puck past the Aces keeper. Minutes later, and he was at it again, this time the puck was saved on the line by a defender, and out came the penalty shot.
Now I offerred my services, but Spike informed me that when you get to the blue, you don't actually shoot the puck in or dump it in the corner.
Deciding that this sounded a little too complicated, Brian took the shot. To the credit of both Brian and the Aces keeper, the shot was finely saved.
The diminutive Fletch popped up twice to help Tom complete both his second and third as we became eventual winners 6-4.
Nothing like doing things the hard way.
Congratulations go out to Marty Lewis who turns 21 at the game v Nottingham, and also to the new found love of Gary Dowd's life Dj. It is really good to see...
8th January 2000- Reflections on our home game against Sunderland Chiefs
Sunderland proved to be a true thorn in the side for the first 30 minutes of saturdays game.
They forced the puck well and we didn't quite manage to find our stride. I don't think we looked under pressure, rather we just yet again failed to turn up the pressure.
With so many players going down with the flu bug this christmas, myself included, it appeared that we laboured just a little too much... We might be clear at the moment, but it's true to say that we need to win every game through to the end of the season.
I was one of a number of the lads who didn't really enjoy the game. But c'est la vie!
Sunday takes us to Altrincham, a team I know well having played for them on two occassions. The rink is small and hard to play, the crowd(if they turn up) can be quite impossing. Over the last couple of years, Altrincham have managed to take a few of the spoils from ourselves. In their home barn they will not want to be beat. I would expect to see them ice a full squad. After all we did fail to give them a good game here, so I am sure its in their minds that can turn us over.
I hope to be playing this weekend if Ican manage to shake a bout of tonsilitis, and then get over my birthday hangover planned for Saturday night.
A new millennium and a wining start has to be the positive start we take into the rest of the season.
18th December 99- Reflections on our home game against Blackburn Hawks
Revenge has a sweet taste! For fans and players alike, the game was fun, good goals, a dominating physical performance and some excellent team/individual performances.
Yet again the preminition held true, as I spoke with young Steven Wallace before the game, I said that I felt he'd get somewhere between 3 or 4 goals during the game, and low and behold he turned in a great performance. 3+1. Every player was truly up for the game before the match, there seems to be a more jovial mood in the changing room, with the lads full of pre christmas spirits (not literally).
From the start there was only going to be one team in it. We do not like getting beat. So imagine the feeling going through the squad when we lost to Blackburn. Saturday was a time to make up for the past.
The first line tantalised the Blackburn defence, with a finese that was nothing short of remarkable. The power (or should it be the weight) of the second line showed. Never really losing out, both lines played to win. The young lads on third did an excellent job, DJ placing a hit a shift, and Liam and Tom, skating attackingly at the opposition.
First period seemed easy as we strolled to a 6-1 lead. As we have been so guilty of so many time this season, we let Blackburn back into the game as we slowed the pace. The game was one to be enjoyed, and sets us up nicely for a good christmas.
One notable performance that certainly grabbed my attention was that of Si Burns, the goally turned defenceman, put up an excellent show, solid, assured and confident, Burnsey played an excellent no nonsense game. The Eagles do not take defeat easy, please,oh please let Deeside enter our barn.................
12th December 99- Reflections on our away game against Sheffield.
Why didn't I say 6 goals to young Steven Wallace? Before every game he has played this season for the eagles, I have jokingly said, "you'll score 2 today, or you'll score one, or like against Sheffield your up for a hat trick today..." Young Wally typifies the work done by Terry Ward and the junior section at bring through talent. Wally, Tom Giffiths, Liam and DJ all looked every inch the senior player as they took to the "dark" Sheffield ice.
If there has been one thing we have been guilty of this year it's being maybe a bit too complacent. Sheffield must have believed they were going to face an annihilation after the end of the first, as goals seemed to come from all angles as players such as Tom, Spike and Dowdy joined Wally in unleashing shot after shot onto the Sheffield net.
The once formidable Chris Kelland now 40 + and still with the shortest stick in hockey was kind enough to pass the puck to Tom in the high slot to fire a ferocious shot into the back of the net. The goal of the first period had to be the first by Wally, how on earth he weaved, pirouetted and tip toed around four Sheffield players, to slot the puck past the keeper with a player clung to the back of his shirt no one will ever know. Anyone who has watched hockey at Billingham over a number of year, will be able to see the resemblance between the way he players and excellent Richard Laplante.
By the second period Sheffield were ready for a fight and clawed the game back to 6-4. Yep we had a nice rest for a period....... Without Brian or Fletch the game showed the strength and versatility of the squad. DJ Flett stepped up and managed to hit every player on the opposition whilst at the same time playing some excellent passing play with line mates Spike and Wally.
After the respite of the 2nd, we turned up the pressure again, and to the credit of the Sheffield keeper, he denied all attempts to put the puck past him. Obviously he didn't feel very festive about giving the Eagles any more points for the league. All in all the game was about taking the points, and that we did. I still believe we have yet to play our best hockey as a team, Humberside was good, but the best is yet to come.
One comment from the game that stick in my mind is Spike's as we went out for the second " Right, Fletch is sacked, you can have him on second line, I give Wally the puck and then all I have to do is skate back to the centre circle for a face off." he mused.
This week it's the festive game v Blackburn, they stole points from us at their rink, now let retribution be ours............. Match Report
21st November 99- Reflections on our away game against Blackburn
There are some games where heart and determintion are the difference between the teams. A sluggish start saw the Hawks net three unanswered goals from the start, as we barley got up to pace. Shell shocked as a team, the interlude at the end of the first provided a much needed respite. The time also allowed us the opportunity to sound off our concerns as a whole. The second period started much like the first with Hawks netting again. The large flat ice of Blackburn is an ideal passing rink where if people stay in position the game is simple. It took us almost 30 minutes to start looking like a team. By which point the battle to retain the points was going to be very difficult. When we do play like a team, I believe there is not a team in the league who can skate with us, when we don't, well, the last two results just go to show..... The team has not fundamentally changed, maybe if anything we should be stronger. However resting on your laurels can be a very dangerous occupation, champions last year, yes, champions this year??? not unless we start working together. I think following the end of the match, all the lads thought the same thing, we need a change.. So that's what we have in store, from start to finish for the Humberside game, DJ Flett, Liam Thompson and Burner all had good games putting in the effort throughout. it's time to pick up the pace, and start performing...
13th November 99- Reflections on our home game against Altrincham Aces
Complacency breeds contempt...
What should have turned out a strong victory, ended up a close call.....
With Altrincham icing only nine skaters against our "championship wining" team, the result should have been a foregone conclusion, but that was never going to be. To their credit, Altrincham were unluckly not to salvage at least a point from the encounter. Having played alongside the lads from Alty a few season's ago, one thing I was sure of was that they would not just lie back and take a punishment. Over the past few years, the games between both teams have been hard fought, with Alty taking a few points from ourselves. Full Match report
31st October 99- Reflections on our second home game of the season against Whitley
Games certainly do not come much harder than this. For the fans the game I was informed was scrappy and disjointed, for the players however, returning to the changing room with the sweet taste of victory was enough to mask the pain of a very physical encounter with our Tyneside rivals. In a game that still carries a lot of the old North East rivalry of the old Wasps, Warriors and Bombers days, last night performance was one bourne out of tradition with both team icing players from all sides. The mood before the game was very positive, with all the lads truly believing in ourselves, with the battle lines clearly drawn, a win was the only positive result we would be settle for. You gain a good insight into what the game means to the players when you have Team captain Spike ready at the rink two hours before face off and the rest of the team all there between 1-1.5 hours before. In fact both teams knew the importance of the result of the game could have on the overall league placing's at the end of the season. From the stands, the fans must have noticed just how vocal both teams where on the ice, frustrations quickly grew, at a number of poor refereeing decisions. In a game which saw several Whitley players attempting to gain a place in the UK Olympic fencing squad, it was hard to believe the only three people in the rink not to see the offence's where wearing black and white. The resilience of the team has to be noted, Gaz Dowd played an excellent game, making both a big hit and an excellent defensive pole check. (To his credit, I have never seen Gaz so knackered, in the Owington Farm after the game, both he and I where too tired to move, I think we both felt closer to 74 & 76 rather than 24 & 26.) Spike & Fletch where back to their old form, teasing and tantalizing the Whitley defence, new line mate Sean Black, certainly must have known that his former team mates where going to give him no respite as they "nailed" him time and time again, but Sean took it in his stride and kept laying the puck of to the Deadly duo of Windridge and Fletcher. The former Durham Wasps duo of Hehir (how is his name spelt?) and Lewis worked well with Tom to ensure the second line posed a constant threat to the Whitley team. Nothing feels better than a win. And that win is even sweeter when you have to work hard for it against a good team. One last mention has to be made to young Richie Thornton who collected MOM. Playing on defence with him week in, week out, you can truly see how good a player he is. At 17, he has a great grasp of the game, and moves the puck very well.
Only one thing left to do now..............................win the league again! (And beat Whitley up the road at Hillheads.....sorry to butt in Andy B) Full match report
18th October 99- Reflections on our away game against Bradford
In a game where every player showed their worth, it's hard to pick out any one player. Brian Perry found space time and time again to gel the first line together. 15 year old Wallace showed the skill the lads have come to expect, silkily helping himself to 4+1, while young Liam Thompson pushed himself up the stats table with 3+3. Third liners Flett (2) and Griffths (1) both scored with finesse following excellent interlinking play from their line mates.With both sets of defence playing strongly together, in the absence of Dowd, the positions for the Whitley game are going to be highly sought after. With Burns (0+5) & Perry (3+6) paired and Richardson (1+4) & Thornton (0+3) making up the second, questions are going to have to be asked of who will be playing together in the crucial Whitley Game. From the back it's easy to see just how much the team have developed together, the potential is there for Billingham to play not just three line hockey, but to ice four strong lines. With the derby match being the highlight of the regular season, it would be nice to see the fans at the rink. Whitley are sure to bring their fans, who are quite simply "vocal," any player will tell you that a good crowd lifts the game, so I am sure that both teams would love to have support. Full match report
11th October 99- Reflections on our away game against Nottingham
High on self belief and the news of the Whitley's result with Hull, we travelled to Nottingham looking to rack up a comfortable victory. One thing experience should have told us, is that there are no easy games. Despite the large win last season at Nottingham, the Nottingham youngsters are hungrier and have a years more experience than when we last met and the game was harder than expected. In true Nottingham style, the youngsters played a physical, disciplined game preventing us from finding our stride until mid way through the first period. With so many "face masks" on the ice, the game transcended into a lot of "niggly" little incidents that saw a number of the more experienced Billingham players spending time in the sin bin for retaliation penalties. The referee failed to "see" any of the incidents which resulted in the Bilingham player getting more and more frustrated. To the credit of the Nottingham team, their team looked fit and made us work for every puck. The game saw one of the Billingham old guard return in the shape of Simon Burn's. The keeper, turned blueliner joined myself on patrolling the blue line for most of the first and second period interchanging with the old veteran Thornton (now 17, and pestering the roads of Billingham in a Space Wagon) in keeping the Nottingham team out of our end. As always, keeper Flett put up a dominating performance, stopping almost everything the Nottingham team threw at him. The determination of the Eagles to win was typified by a blistering goal from Tommy "Boom Boom" Brown in the closing stages which left Nottingham without reply. With Dowdy and Fletch out again this weekend for Bradford, the stage is set for the Billingham youngsters to stake their claim to a shirt for the local derby against Whitley. The potential for this fuel packed match is being relished by all the players who are looking forward to playing our local contenders. Captain Invincible Paul Spike Windridge, suffered a serious pair of cuts which needed stitching at the end of the third following an accidental check from team mate Pritchard. As anyone who knows Spike can tell you, he has his own personal ward at North Tees Hospital, after being voted the player most likely to get injured by the the rest of the team.. Despite this, everyone is fully aware that the old war-horse now in his testimonial season, will be ready for action on Sunday.
4th October 99- Reflections on our first home game of the season against Sheffield
It looks like both Gaz and Andy will take three games .The reports get filed at the beginning of the week so we will know by Thursday what bans are being imposed. With the squad we have now it looks like we are going to have to play four line hockey especially at home, the depth is really that strong. Hopefully it will mean that all players are playing for their shirt. I happen to believe that on the basis of the past results and the squad, we are undoubtedly the team to beat. The real test now will be Whitley. Nottingham are a young team who I would be surprised if they could play the physical side of our game. Bradford are another week team without too many skillful players, so hopefully we will see the younger lads performing again. I guess it is frustrating for them, to see players not train and get in ahead of them. As one of the seniors I tend to take the players to one side and say they have to prove themselves and go do a job. No one likes to sit on the bench, it is frustrating. Unfortunately or fortunately we have a very strong team with a good mix of old and young, so they have to want to oust the likes of the first and second line from their positions. The skills of these young lads I have no doubt would earn them a first/second line position on any other team in the league, with Gaz and Andy out, there is a chance for a Defenceman and forward to step up, but I am sure that with Ste Wallace playing so well he is not going to want to relinquish his place. Bring on the opposition, the Eagles are back in town.
20th September 99- Reflections on our second game of the season against Sunderland
The game showed that the younger lads, DJ, Liam and Dave can play at the higher level. All three stepped up well, and Liam in particular played a vital role in the game. The first ten minutes or so showed the resilience of the team. Sunderland are a well disciplined team who in 2-3 years will be challenging the more established teams. I didn`t really plan to play on Sat as I had damaged all the ligaments in my ankle, so through warm up and the beginning of the period I was in a lot of pain and unable to stop or turn quick. As the game went on I tried to forget about it and get on with things. Young Si Greenwood did very well when called upon. It will be good to see the rink up to scratch soon, I know everyone is looking forward to playing the first home game, I am taking it easy this week to let my ankle rest. Whitley and then Humberside will be the real challenge, Whitley have gained about 6 players whom all have experience of playing at higher levels. From past experience these players will make a massive difference to their squad, I would not fancy the chances of many teams taking points from them especially in the "Hell hole" that is Whitley. On the road, things are different, I know they don`t like travelling. Humberside are always an awkward team to play against, and with Payney back they should have an added bit of skill in the team. So Chris Kelland is in our league, he's an established player in the British game who will give/ bring a lot of experience to the Sheffield team, he always had good hands and the ability to read the game. Whether at his age he can still take the physical side of the game from the likes of Dowdy and Tom remains to be seen, but having played against him in the past, I know that he has one or two tricks which can catch you out, after all he is a former GB international. Anything that lifts the quality of the league has to be good for the game.. lets hope we can get fitter and keep this up for the entire season.