ICE HOCKEY: SOLIHULL Barons’ purple patch extended into mid-November following a crushing 5-2 win against Whitley Warriors on Sunday.
The win was Barons’ seventh unbeaten game on the spin, and ensured they leapfrogged Whitley to move up to sixth in the league table.
Barons didn’t have it all their own way though. A close opening period saw both teams trade offensive blows, though defence at either end of the rink proved just as fruitful.
The home side opened the scoring through Luke Brittle, whose solo effort on six minutes delighted the home crowd.
But celebrations were short lived when Whitley hit back within a minutes through Canadian import Philip Edgar as the period ended level.
The second period saw plenty of shots on goal as the two sides swapped attacks.
But with both Josh Nicholls in the Barons net and Whitley goalie Richie Lawson on top form, there would be no further scoring.
Barons were left to rue a couple of chances, including failing to convert during a five-on-three powerplay.
The hosts broke the deadlock at the start of the third period when Phil Mulcahy scored on the powerplay with a tap-in from close range.
Adam Brittle helped Solihull double their lead on 43 minutes as the game’s balance tipped in Solihull’s favour.
With ten minutes to go, Luke Brittle got his second – and Barons’ fourth goal – of the evening as he launched a shot past Richie Lawson and into the roof of the Whitley net.
The Warriors came back with their second goal in the final five minutes of the game to give the visitors a little hope of sneaking some reward for their efforts.
However, with Lawson pulled for the extra attacker, the puck inevitably fell to Solihull. And it was left to Andy Whitehouse to round things off for the Barons with a final empty net goal.
Barons are back in action at home on Sunday when they take on Blackburn Hawks.
Face-off is at 6pm.
Picture: Barons goalie Josh Nicholls fends of the Whitley Warriors Jordan Barnes (J&K Davies).
