Story by Brock Ormond

Photo by Amy Deroche, OJHL Images

It took them six tries, but the Trenton Golden Hawks have finally solved the Wellington Dukes.

Despite a spirited goaltending effort from Matt Dunsmoor, four unanswered goals and a rock-solid defensive performance lifted Trenton to its first win in the Battle of Quinte this season Friday night, 4-1.

Before taking control of the game, the G-Hawks spotted Wellington a goal from Frank Vitucci within the first four-and-a-half minutes of the game. The Yardley, Pennsylvania product got some space to skate down the right wing and shelved a hard wrist shot short-side over Trenton netminder Anand Oberoi’s left shoulder before he could be checked by a defender.

Dylan Massie drew the only assist on Vitucci’s 26th of the season.

From that point on however, it was all Trenton for the majority of the rivalry contest, as the visitors pummelled Dunsmoor with 22 shots in the first period and eventually broke through at the tail end of a powerplay at 9:18.

Sullivan Sparkes redirected a Kyle Robinson point shot past a screened Dunsmoor for his fourth goal in as many games since joining the Golden Hawks.

Adam Kim added the second helper on the marker.

With under six minutes remaining in the first, Trenton took the lead and held it, capitalizing on a persistent forecheck and scoring on a rebound scramble thanks to former Duke Dalton Bancroft.

Matt Nastasiuk and Griffen Fox factored into Bancroft’s 20th goal of the year, the one that turned out to be the winner.

The Golden Hawks continued their dominance in the middle frame, outshooting Wellington 24-6, but were stymied by Dunsmoor, which allowed the Dukes their chances to equal the score.

Ben Woodhouse and Justin Paul had Wellington’s best opportunities back-to-back, with Woodhouse getting stopped on his second breakaway of the game, then sticking with the play to set up Paul, who got the proverbial door promptly slammed shut on him by Oberoi.

Those saves proved large, as Trenton upped the lead to two in the dying seconds of the period, scoring on another scramble. Griffen Fox got credit for his 20th of the year from Sparkes and Cameron Gaylor at 19:54.

A better effort in the third period wasn’t enough for the Dukes, as they were once again denied at every turn by Oberoi and the stingy Golden Hawks defence. Wyatt George iced things with an empty-netter from Julien Jacob with under two minutes remaining and pocked Trenton’s fourth straight win.

The Dukes won the third period shot count 11-7, but were still doubled in total shots, 53-28. Dunsmoor’s 49 saves were good enough to earn him second star honours, while Oberoi was rewarded with a star for his 27-save effort.

Trenton improves to 33-9-1-2 on the season, seven points clear of Wellington (30-9-2-0) for first position in the East Division. However, the Dukes still have games in hand.

The loss is also only the Dukes second of the season on home ice.

Wellington will have a week off before a home and home series with the Lindsay Muskies next weekend, going to the Kawartha Lakes area next Friday night at 7:40 p.m.