Lions pounce on Barons Lapses

By Gareth Thomson

The Sheldon Jewellery Centre Solihull Barons came away from Sunday's National Ice Hockey league clash against the Nottingham Lions rueing what might have been. In a closely fought fixture against the league leading Lions, lapses in the first period proved to be too much for the Barons to overcome.

The game started brightly enough for the Barons, with Jake Larkin spinning the puck into the Nottingham net off assists from line mates Rich Slater and Joe Henry within the first three minutes of the game. Over the next ten minutes both sides had their opportunities but it was the Lions who were gifted a goal during a Barons powerplay. A clearance from the Lions end headed down the empty neutral ice toward the left hand corner of the Solihull defensive zone. As Barons netminder Dave Roxburgh left his crease to clear the puck, his misdirected effort found its way straight to the Lion's Gareth O'Flaherty who did not eed asking twice and slotted the puck beyond Roxburgh's frantic recovery dive and into the empty net to level the sides.  

With half a minute of the final period remaining the Lions hit back again, Luke Branin skating round the back of the Barons net before poking the puck into a gap just inside the Barons left hand post.

The Barons heads remained up as they entered the second period and despite the scoreline they continued to have the balance of play, outshooting the Lions three to one. In the Lion's net however was an on form Sam Gospel who was seeing the puck well, with a confident catcher hand and minimising rebounds, much to the frustration of the Barons and their 600 strong support.

The final period saw the tempo upping further and the Barons leading the play. Despite another 23 shots on goal, Gospel's netting remained untouched. With 10 minutes to go an open ice collision between the Barons Phil Lee and the Lions Matt Greaves flared up into roughing, the Solihull defence man going to the penalty box with a Lions teeth marks on his hand !

Despite dominating for much of the game it was an understandably disappointed Barons captain Chris Allen who spoke after the match. "I thought we played well and controlled a lot of the game. We gave away two goals early on though and then came up against a goalie who, for me, was easily their man of the match - he really stood on his head tonight. We still have three more games against Nottingham, and with those, six points to be won or lost. Our last two games of the season are against the Lions and it could be these which decide the season."

The Barons are back on the ice this Sunday against the Hull NL Stingrays and Allen was keen to return to winning ways. "Hull are a hard working side but if we put in the full sixty minutes we should come away with the points."

Another 500 plus crowd is expected for this fixture which will also be run in support of BBC Radio West Midlands Red Alert Leukaemia appeal. As part of this initiative a free skate with the Barons session in aid of the charity will follow the game. Face off 6pm.

Goal : Larkin
Assists : R Slater, Henry
Man of the Match : Phil Lee

Phil Knight A sour note was struck in the middle of the second period when Phil Knight took an accidental stick to the face resulting in a serious eye injury. At the time of writing the Solihull defenceman is receiving specialist treatment and all associated with the Barons wish him the best for a full recovery.

Skate with the Barons and Help Cure Leukaemia Solihull Barons v Hull NL Stingrays Sunday 16th December Charity 1100154 After a successful game earlier in the season supporting this good cause, the Barons have decided to repeat the effort with an added chance to skate with the Barons players after the game. Face-off : 6pm Adults £6 : Concessions £3 Family ticket £16 (2 adults and up to 3 children)