BLACKBURN HAWKS 6 - 2 TELFORD TITANS
by

Steve Mayers

 
League points were up for grabs on Sunday evening, as the visiting Telford Titans arrived at the Arena. Buoyed by a resounding 10-0 success at bottom club, Kingston, on the previous day, the Hawks were looking to consolidate a play-off place at the expense of their opponents. The game was given extra spice by the fact that the home side were icing two ex-Telford players, who were keen to prove a point to their old team.
With the Hawks still without several of their influential players, the lines needed re-jigging, with players stepping into the breach.
The 1st period started at a fast pace, with both teams looking to dominate. A couple of penalties to the opposition saw the Hawks given a 5 on 3 powerplay, but they could not manufacture an opening. However, as the Titans got back to 4 players, Chris Butler received the puck on the blue line, drifted towards goal, and hit a low slapshot just inside the post. The game continued to ebb and flow, with many 'off the puck' incidents from both teams, giving each powerplay opportunities. Just as it looked as though the teams were heading to the lockers with just the solitary goal to show for their efforts, up stepped Craig Rogers to score the goal of the game. The imposing 'D-man' picked up the puck on his own blue line, carried it forward, whilst holding off the attentions of 3 Titans, and as he cut in towards the Telford goal, flicked it deftly between the keeper's pads. This gave Blackburn some 'much-needed' breathing space as they came out for the 2nd
period, and it got even better for the home side after only 3 minutes. Anthony Kinder hit a speculative shot which was spilled by the netminder, and Karl Downey was on-hand to slide in a poacher's goal.
 
 Jared Owen and Danny Brittle, the two ex-Telford players were both having exceptional games against their old team - Brittle in determined mood between the pipes, and Owen linking up play supremely well. The Hawks fans appreciated their efforts, and gave them plenty of vocal encouragement in return. The home team were showing great discipline throughout, refusing to rise to the baiting of the visitors, who began to show signs of frustration.
 
 The lack of players started to become a factor for the Hawks in the 3rd period, and it was evident that they were beginning to tire. However, a combination of the home fans constant chanting, and a will amongst the team to come away with the points, saw Matt Viney recover the puck behind the visitor's goal, and pick out the inspirational Aaron Davies who finished clinically. With 10 minutes remaining, a 5th Blackburn goal, scored by Owen, was met by a deafening roar by the Hawks followers, who then took great delight in teasing the opposition. Two goals in a minute served to temporarily silence the 'Drum-Bashing Ultras', but as the clock wound down, the final word was had by Kinder, who found himself open in front of the net. He steadied himself, then struck a fearsome shot into the top corner, to end the scoring.

The MVP for Blackburn could have gone to any one of a number of players, including Viney, Davies, Lomax, and Rogers, although it was eventually decided upon to go to Danny Brittle, for his mercurial performance in the Hawks goal.