ICE HOCKEY: SOLIHULL Barons became the latest team to fall short against National League North One leaders Solways Sharks on Sunday after losing 4-2 at home to Solway Sharks.
Despite being outplayed in the opening period, the Barons remained in contention right up until the last few minutes of the game but eventually fell to a ninth league defeat of the season.
The first period faced off at a fast pace with the Scottish visitors showing why they are the runaway league leaders with a series of rapid plays continually threatening the Barons net.
The game remained scoreless however until the 12th minute as the Barons looked set to shutdown the Sharks first powerplay only for Juraj Senko to find Marc Fowley on the blue line who slotted the puck home with a slapshot from 50 feet away as the penalty was extinguished.
The Barons had a few chances to equalise but missed passes and missed goalmouths saw the scoring remain in favour of the visitors as the sides headed into the dressing room.
The second period had the Barons quickly back in the game as Joe Henry equalised with a shot from the right of the crease for the equaliser a minute into the period.
Within another two minutes the Barons went ahead as Tomas Janak shot above a prone Callum Hepburn in the Solway net to give Solihull the lead.
The Solihull lead would last as far as the half-hour mark before a Struan Tonnar wrist shot defeated Josh Nicholls and gave the visitors their equaliser to set up a winner takes all final period.
The visitors regained the lead early in the final period with Stuart Andrews finding space round Josh Nicholls’ outstretched leg for the Sharks goal number three after three minutes of the period.
Much of the rest of the period would see the Barons continuing to pressure the Sharks end zone but with the Solway defence keeping the play on the perimeter the score remained in favour of the visitors despite a few good home chances.
With two minutes to go the Sharks sealed the tie, Joe Coulter with Solways fourth goal.
Next weekend the Barons face an away double header beginning with a trip to Sheffield on Saturday to take on Sutton Sting before travelling to Billingham Stars the following day.
The Barons have nearly a month until they return to home ice when the Whitley Warriors make their first visit of the season February 26.
