Sheffield Spartans 7 : Solihull Barons 7
Nottingham Lions 6 : Solihull Barons 2
17th / 18th December 2011
Hayden Laverick and Erik Bakalar did all they could to maintain the lead Solihull had built up but the Spartans clinched a draw with a last gasp effort. With injuries to many of the senior defencemen, youngsters such as Luke Smith had to step up to the mark. Checking two players at one was always going to be tricky though.
Andy Whitehouse reinforced his growing credibility as a potent offensive force with three points and Man of the Match against Sheffield.
Barons Man of the Match for the Sheffield game, Andy Whitehouse

 

Last gasp Spartans break Barons hearts

Sheffield Spartans 7-7 Solihull Barons
Nottingham Lions 6-2 Solihull Barons
By Matt Johnson, Barons Press Officer

Sheffield Spartans inflicted a cruel late blow on the Barons in their clash at Ice Sheffield as an equalizer just THREE seconds from time cost them their third straight victory.

The 7-7 draw did present Solihull with a first away point of the season, which on another day would have been celebrated accordingly, but to come so close to victory and lose out so cruelly in the dying embers made it feel a little too flat.

Charlie Hammerton and Erik Bakalar struck to give Solihull a 2-0 first period advantage as the away side took early control.

Further goals from Andy Whitehouse, Lee Winwood, Richard Slater and Mike Rodger in the second made it 6-3, as the Barons looked well on course to secure a timely first away victory.

Sheffield reduced the arrears early in the third, before Bakalar notched his second to restore the three goal advantage.

But a resilient Spartans fought back to score three goals in the final ten minutes, including the equalizing sucker punch moments from time to snatch a share of the spoils.

 

 

To make matters worse, the following night at the National Ice Centre, the four match unbeaten run came shuddering to a halt just short of the winter break as Nottingham Lions romped home to a 6-2 victory against the visibly drained Barons.

A drab first period ended 0-0, but two goals in the second for the hosts put them in the driving seat heading into a crucial final period.

Richard Slater found the net twice with two trademarked individual efforts, but a further four from the Lions meant Solihull ended the festive period, and the 2011 calendar year, with defeat.

The Barons look to get back to winning ways when they resume action in the New Year on Sun Jan 8 with a home clash against rivals Telford Titans.

Face-off is scheduled for 6pm with tickets priced at £6 adults and £3 concessions.

V Sheffield Spartans
Goals: Hammerton, Bakalar (2), Whitehouse, Winwood, R Slater, Rodger
Assists: Perks, Buckland, Whitehouse (2), Andrews, R Slater (2), Winwood, Bakalar, Eley
Man of the Match: Whitehouse

V Nottingham Lions
Goals: R Slater (2)
Assists: TBC
Man of the Match: R Slater

 

 
 
Original photography courtesy of Keith & Jenny Davies