TC CARS Solihull Barons emerged with four points from the weekend’s home offerings as a 7-3 win over Whitley Warriors was followed by a 3-2 defeat to Sheffield Steeldogs.
Both matches were high-quality affairs against competitive opposition.
On Saturday Barons welcomed Whitley Warriors to the Solihull rink for a mid-table clash, with the two sides having been quite evenly matched over the course of the season.
By the end of the first period Solihull had raced into control thanks to goals from Josh Bruce, Ed Eaton and Luke Brittle, the latter scored off a penalty shot.
By the second period the visitors came more into the game but Barons did enough to keep a cushion and headed into the final 20 minutes 4-2 up.
Barons continued to control the game as it the final period progressed, matching Warriors before easing out to a fairly comfortable win after a well controlled performance.
On Sunday, Barons met title-chasing Steeldogs in a very high-paced and good-quality game, with very solid hockey played by both sides.
The first period was end to end stuff with pockets of pressure being exerted by both sides and a single goal by the Steeldogs being the only difference by the interval.
The second period was by and large all Barons. Phil Mulcahy equalised before relentless Solihull pressure was finally reward in the final second of the period with an Eaton goal to give Barons the lead for the first time.
Steeldogs managed to level in the first few minutes of the final period before Malin Kolena notched his third goal for the visitors to give them a lead they were to control for the remainder of the game.
Barons are back on home ice this Saturday (5pm) when they face Nottingham Lions in NIHL North Division One.
