A DEPLETED Solihull Vixens put in a brave display in their Women’s Elite League defeat at Guildford.
Despite the lack of numbers, the team spirit and passion were not dampened among the Solihull girls.
From the drop of the puck, Solihull took the game to in-form Guildford and had several encouraging chances, putting the hosts in the uncomfortable position of being on the back foot.
However, the first period finished goalless.
The second period started much the same then finally at 24.30, Solihull’s Mariah Spare passed to assistant captain Saffron Allen who fired the visitors into the lead.
Just two-and-a-half minutes later Allen again got control of the puck and finished unassisted to give Solihull a two-goal advantage.
This lead was cut short at 34.09 when Amy Mansbridge managed to beat Michelle Franklin in the Solihull net.
This was followed by Solihull’s Rebecca Speckman being given a dubious two-minute penalty which Guildford capitalised on with Laura Price levelling the score at 35.30.
The period continued at a feverish rate and ended with the game sitting on a knife edge.
Just 6.51 into period three saw Allen find the net for her hat-trick goal having been supplied by captain Katie Henry and the game looked fairly much under control.
This was then followed by a succession of questionable penalties which left the travelling team more or less playing out the game shorthanded.
The lack of numbers and the string of penalties began to show on the Solihull legs and Guildford equalised at 50.16 with a second from Mansbridge.
And then Guildford took the lead when another questionable penalty opened the door for Louise Adams to seal a 4-3 victory for the home side.
The result dropped Solihull to third in the table but still very much in with a good chance of reaching the play-offs.
Solihull now travel to Hull on Saturday for another crunch game.
