Report: Whitley Bay Beacons 2-6 Queen Bees IHC

Whitley Bay Beacons fell to a 6-2 defeat at home against the Queen Bees in an eight goal thriller.

A Katherine Gale brace gave the Bees a 2-0 lead in the first period before goals from Caitlin Stocks and Abigail Culshaw leveled the score in the second period, only for Ellie Wallace to fire the Queen Bees back ahead.

The Queen Bees put the game away in the third period with Wallace getting one more goal, and Gale two.

The Beacons game into the game knowing it would be a tough task hosting the defending champions.

Five minutes into the match, Gale received the puck right in front of goal and promptly fired home before finding the net again just 10 minutes later from a similar position.

Halfway through the second period, a Ruby Newlands shot saw the puck deflect to the stick of Stocks who struck back for Whitley.

Just minutes after getting themselves back into the game the Beacons levelled the score when a powerful shot from the edge of the rink by Culshaw beat the Bees’ goaltender and found the net.

However five minutes before the end of the second period Wallace got a one-on-one chance for the Queen Bees which she thrust over Samantha Bolwell’s shoulder into the net.

Gale completed her hattrick seconds into the third period before Wallace controlled the puck past the Whitley defence and fired into the bottom corner just seven minutes later.

Gale scored her fourth goal of the match on a counter-attack eight minutes from the game’s end to secure a 6-2 win for Queen Bees.