Billingham Stars still lead the way in ENL1 North. Michael Elder scored twice for Stars as they beat Trafford Metros 4-1. Whitley Warriors are second after a 7-0 win over Nottingham Lions – DJ Good (2), Callum Watson (2), Dean Holland (2) and Nathan Ryder scored the goals. Blackburn Hawks moved into the play-off places with an emphatic 8-0 win over Telford Titans – Sami Narkia grabbed a hat-trick for the Hawks. Solihull Barons boosted their hopes of avoiding the drop with a 6-3 win over Sheffield Spartans – Erik Bakalar scored a couple for Barons.
Solway Sharks made it 15 ENL2 wins in a row with an 8-3 success over Hull Stingrays. Nathan Salem (4) and Adam Reynolds (2) led the way for Sharks who look title certainties. Sutton Sting are up to second after beating promotion rivals Flintshire Freeze 9-2 – Simon Butterworth and Shaun Ashton both scored two for Sting. Elvis Veldze hit four as Fylde Flyers beat Bradford Bulldogs 9-4, while Lancashire Raptors are still seeking their first points of the season after losing 7-0 to Sheffield Senators.
Chelmsford Chieftains beat Slough Jets 8-2 to stay a point clear at the top of ENL1 South. Romford Raiders are second after a 6-3 win over MK Thunder, while third placed Cardiff Devils beat Streatham Redskins 7-3. Wightlink Raiders edged past Bristol Bulldogs 5-4 while Invicta Dynamos beat Oxford Stars 9-3.
Guildford Flames grabbed a pair of road wins to open up a two-point lead over Slough Jets at the top of the EPL. Jez Lundin’s (right) last minute empty-netter crowned a 5-3 win at Manchester Phoenix, while Branislav Kvetan notched the shoot-out winner as they beat Sheffield Steeldogs 5-4. Slough split a weekend double-header with third placed MK Lightning, winning 3-1 on home ice but falling 5-2 in the reverse fixture.
Sheffield’s Stuart Brittle scored twice as the Steeldogs beat Basingstoke Bison 5-4, while Juraj Faith grabbed a pair as Phoenix beat Peterborough Phantoms 4-3. Ondrej Lauko hit two as Phantoms beat Telford 4-2 and the Tigers completed a miserable weekend losing 3-1 to Bracknell Bees. Jaroslav Cesky scored twice as Swindon Wildcats won 6-2 against the Bees.
Sheffield Steelers grabbed two vital overtime wins to crank up the pressure at the top of the Elite League. They beat leaders Belfast Giants 2-1 and followed up with a 4-3 win over Braehead Clan. Giants recovered to beat Fife Flyers 3-1 while Nottingham Panthers 6-2 win over Edinburgh Capitals keeps them second – a point ahead of Sheffield.
(Image permissions: Sami Narkia – Pete Sheffield; Jez Lundin – Chris Turner)
