BLACKBURN Hawks got their expected victory away to bottom side Billingham last night - but only a last period flurry of goals gave the scoreline a realistic look.

Hawks laid siege to the Teesiders' goal all night, registering a total of 73 on-target shots, but heroics from Bombers' netminder Joe Watkins kept the gap between the sides respectable until the final minutes.

Oleg Sinkov shot the visitors into a second minute lead and despite an immediate equaliser, Hawks raced into a 5-1 advantage with just six minutes on the clock.

But brave Billingham, and in particular Watkins, stemmed the tide and clawed back three goals to make the first period scoreline 5-4.

The basement outfit did even better in the second period, tying 1-1.

But Hawks, with British Canadian Declan MacNaughton making his debut, emphasised their superiority by taking the final period by seven goals to one.

MacNaughton, signed from Solihull Barons on Monday, rotated in defence with player-coach Ryan Kummu and veteran George Powell, with Malcolm Bell sidelined with a sore shoulder.

And the new man celebrated his debut by providing an assist.

But for once it was Hawks' "Brits" who took the main goal-scoring honours, Jon Cotton and Simon Mills both registering fine hat tricks.

Mills' treble was a timely contrast in fortunes to his sending off at Murrayfield two days earlier.

"It was a strange game. We really battered them and it could have been a lot more," said Hawks manager Mike Cockayne.

"Their keeper played out of his skin, but we got our just rewards in the last period.

"In truth with only about 150 spectators in, it's difficult to raise your game and motivate yourself, but we're well satisfied with the two points and the 13 goals."

Scorers: Cotton 3+2, Mills 3+2, Sinkov 2+4, Chatrand 2+3, Kummu 2+1, Haig 1+1, Pennycook 0+4, MacNaughton 0+1.

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