Last weekend saw the Vipers travel up the motorway to Billingham with a short bench, and no bench coaches.

With no bench coaches, the captains ran the bench. Making her debut for the Vipers was Kate Edmonds, who dropped back into defence to help out the two defensemen.

The Vipers entered the game fired up and got off to a good start, dominating the first period but were unlucky to score a number of times, and the period ended with the teams tied 0-0.

In the second period the Vipers came out slower but soon picked up their game and displayed some enthusiastic hockey. This great team work was credited early on in to the period when Julia Coughill scored the first goal of the game, even handed, assisted by Emma French, timed at 26.18. The Vipers continued to force the play throughout the period and scored again, this time Emma French, assisted by Julia Coughill and Hayley Ashton, timed at 33.53, even handed. The Vipers kept on the pressure and just before the end of the second period Helen Moss took a shot, which was deflected in by the Billingham team, to score an even handed goal timed at 39.20, to finish the period 0+3.

The team went into the third period determined to come away with the two points and again showed outstanding hockey and great team effort, however, Billingham were keen to get a goal back but some great goaltending from Alison Clark kept them out. Julia Coughill took advantage of a powerplay and scored her second of the game, to take the lead to 0+4 timed at 55.57, assisted by Emma French and with less than thirty seconds left on the clock, Julia made her hat-trick, scoring on another powerplay, assisted by Helen Moss, timed at 59.33.

From the times of the goals, you can see that the Vipers never relaxed and kept up the pressure to hold on to what was a great game mainly dominated by them. Well done to all who played for the long hard fight and well earned win.

Scorers:
Julia Coughill 3+1
Emma French 1+2
Helen Moss 1+1
Hayley Ashton 0+1
MOM:
Anna Cooper
Shots on net:
On Billingham 37
On Nottingham 21

Stars:
Alison Clark 3***
Julia Coughill 2**
The whole team 1*

Read the match report versus Coventry 17 Sept 2005