Solway Sharks 5 Whitley Warriors 2

Mar 15 2010 The Journal

THE Warriors were left to concentrate on winning the English National League North title at Hillheads next Sunday after bowing out of the Northern League play-offs at the semi-final stage on Saturday.

Ryan Sample had given Whitley the lead when he smashed the puck past Sharks’ keeper Gary Russell after just four minutes, but the league champions were level a couple of minutes later courtesy of Corrie Telfer.

However, after an opening period that was even in all aspects, Solway took just two penalties in the remaining two sessions while Whitley somehow managed to accrue a further 56 minutes; and that was to have a profound effect on the game.

Mark Gallagher put the Sharks ahead for the first time at 27.55 when he scored on the powerplay and then added to their lead when he again netted while they had the man advantage a couple of minutes later.

Whitley finally got the chance to play with the extra man late in the middle session and made sure that opportunity was not wasted when Adam Reynolds netted from an acute angle.

But the defining moment of the game probably came in the closing seconds of that session when Paul Windridge was knocked to the ground from behind as he attempted to clear and when the puck fell to Gallagher he completed his hat-trick of powerplay goals – despite Whitley protests that there should have been a penalty.

The Warriors did all they could to get back into the game, but constant penalty calls against them made it difficult to get any ascendancy and left a bitter taste.

As it was Solway scored the only goal of the period – inevitably on the powerplay – when Struan Tonnar netted at 48.39.

Solway went on to win the final when they defeated Dundee Stars 4-2 yesterday afternoon to complete a Northern League double.