Whitley Warriors 7, Paisley Pirates 3

Nov 26 2007 The Journal

DESPITE giving away an early three-goal lead to be level at 3-3 by 47.23, the Warriors finally came through with four unanswered goals to maintain their Northern League title challenge at home to Paisley last night.

Daniel Murdy gave the home side a dream start with a short-handed goal after just 90 seconds and Nathan Salem doubled the advantage soon after.

Netminder Thomas Murdy then had to be at his best when he saved Graeme McCamley’s penalty shot at 10.20, but it was Whitley who scored next when Salem opened the second period scoring at 22.55.

However, Colin McMillan pulled one back for the Pirates three minutes later and that seemed to knock Whitley out of their stride.

Stuart McCaig added a second on 36 minutes and the visitors thought they had completed their comeback when McMillan made it 3-3.

But Andrew Tindale scored a superb short-handed goal on 50 minutes to put the Warriors back on track and just two minutes later Callum Watson tipped in for another Whitley goal.

Salem completed his hat-trick at 55.25 and it was left to Bobby Mole – with his first senior goal – to complete the scoring 71 seconds from time.

Meanwhile, Nathan Salem scored the winning penalty shot for the Warriors as they won 7-6 in an exciting Northern League clash at Blackburn on Saturday night.

The home side had forced overtime with a Dusan Kubik goal 12 seconds from the end of regulation time.

Mark and DJ Good had given the Warriors a first-period lead, but the Hawks had wiped that advantage out less than five into the middle session; and even though Paul Sample restored the visitors’ lead with his first goal of the season at 25.40, Blackburn led 4-3 at the second break.

It was then Whitley’s turn to seize the advantage as Michael Allinson scored twice to edge them back in front, but a powerplay goal from Blackburn’s Ryan O’Reilly tied the scores again on 48 minutes.

Ryan Sample looked to have won the game for the Warriors when he scored on the powerplay at 52.25, until the big Slovakian defender netted his late equaliser for the Hawks.That took the game into five minutes’ overtime and after neither side could grab a goal penalty shots were needed to decide the winner.

Bryan Dunn and Daniel Murdy were both successful for Whitley, but as Sam Dunford was the only home scorer when Salem converted his effort it was the visitors who took the points.

TOP SCORERS

WHITLEY: Salem 3+1, D Murdy and Tindale 1+1, Watson and Mole 1+0, Allinson 0+2, Hendry 0+1.

WHITLEY (SATURDAY): Allinson 2+0, R Sample, D Good and M Good 1+1, P Sample 1+0, Dunn and Tindale 0+2, Salem and Watson 0+1.