Report: Whitley Warriors 4-6 Deeside Dragons

Whitley Warriors fell 4-6 to the Deeside Dragons in their second home loss of the 2024/25 NIHL North Division One season.

Deeside scored twice in the 14th minute of the first period, first from MJ Clancy, then William Harper. Callum Queenan got one back for Whitley in the 15th minute, but Mathew Wainwright made it 1-3 to Deeside in the 17th.

Charles Phillips brought the score to 1-4 in the first minute of the second period. Dean Holland and Kyle Ross struck back for Whitley in the fourth and tenth minutes to make it 3-4 before Jakub Hajek restored the Dragons’ two goal lead in the 12th minute.

Ross got a second goal 13 minutes into the third period, giving Whitley seven minutes to get an equaliser. Hajek however put the game to bed in the final minute of the game to secure a 4-6 win for the Dragons.

Despite the loss, the Warriors remain in a strong position in the table having won five of their first eight games.

The Dragons scored twice in quick succession in the 14th minute when an excellent pass from Hajek found Clancy at the side of the goal who tapped home. Seconds later, a mistake from Whitley saw Deeside have three attackers in the Warriors zone against just one defender, Harper made the most of the situation, giving the Dragons a two goal lead.

Not long after, a Whitley shot took a deflection and landed at the stick of Queenan, who scored before the goaltender could react.

Deeside restored their two-goal cushion before the period ended, with Wainwright scoring on a power play.

Phillips got himself in a good position in front of goal to notch another goal for Deeside early in the second period.

Whitley responded quickly, with Holland slotting the puck under the goaltenders legs one-on-one in the fourth minute of the second period.

Six minutes later, Ross controlled the puck past Deeside’s defence before getting the puck past their goaltender from close range.

In the 12th minute, Jake Witkowski intercepted a Whitley pass before progressing the puck to Hajek who scored to make it 3-5 to Deeside.

Whitley finally managed to get one back near the end of the third period with Ross firing a shot into the top corner of the net from range.

The Warriors could not find another goal and Hajek finished them off in the last minute of the game when he slotted the puck into an empty net after the Warriors pulled their goaltender.