June 15, 2007 -- Call it a fair trade when Colin Doyle and Callum Crawford got ejected from Wednesday’s game in the first period, but Les Wingrove was adamant the ensuing 8-8 deadlock between his Coquitlam Adanacs and the Victoria Shamrocks was not a fair result.

“I don’t think we’re too happy with the tie,” said Wingrove, the Adanacs general manager. “It was a game we should have won.”

The result moved the Adanacs to 3-2-1 in fourth spot in the seven-team Western Lacrosse Association, while the fifth-place Shamrocks shifted to 2-3-1. The New Westminster Salmonbellies dumped the host Langley Thunder 9-5 also Wednesday to remain perfect at 6-0 atop the loop.

After spotting the Shamrocks a 4-1 second-period lead, the Adanacs roared back to out-score the islanders 7-2 over the game’s next 18 minutes to build an 8-6 margin. But the Shamrocks responded with the next two goals and the final 9:20 of regulation –– plus the subsequent 10-minute overtime session –– went scoreless.

That may have been different if net hounds Doyle and Crawford were still in the game. Doyle has 13 points in four A’s outings this season, while Crawford leads Victoria with 25 points in five contests.

Wingrove, for one, felt Doyle shouldn’t have been banished in the first place.

“They [Doyle and Crawford] didn’t even fight,” said Wingrove, even though both players were given majors and game misconducts for a melee in front of the A’s bench at 17:26 of the first period. “Crawford had just scored and came by and mocked our bench, so Doyle cross-checked him. It was a two-minute roughing penalty is what it was. It was nonsense.”

What Wingrove was pleased with was his team’s defensive effort and the play of veteran goalie Dallas Eliuk, who blocked 31 shots. The A’s out-shot the Shamrocks 50-39, including 5-2 in the extra session.

Curt Malawsky led the A’s with three goals, giving the rejuvenated veteran 13 points, including eight goals, in three contests this campaign. Other A’s marksmen were Tim Campeau, Jason Wulder, Peter Veltman, Taylor Wray and Kris Bryde. Campeau also dished out three assists.

RAG LINE: The Adanacs host the 4-2 Nanaimo Timbermen on Saturday, 7:45 p.m., Coquitlam Sports Centre... In B.C. Jr. ‘A’ league play Wednesday, the Coquitlam Jr. Adanacs thrashed the Surrey Stickmen 21-5 to jump to 11-2 behind only the 13-1 Burnaby Jr. Lakers.