Solihull Barons 6 : Sheffield Spartans 3
11th December 2011
Erik Bakalar slides in as Sheffield netminder Mark Hartley covers the puck. While there was no goal this time Erik, netted twice in the game. At the other end of the ice, the Sheffield attack often forced Baron's goalie Sam Hewitt into a series of acrobatic saves.
The old partnership of Rob Eley and Andy Ayres provided the Barons final goal of the night.
Barons Man of the Match, Luke Smith
Spartans Man of the Match, Luke Smith
(the other one !!!)
Man of the match awards sponsored by Shirley "Chorlton" Marshall

 

Three unbeaten for spirited Barons

Solihull Barons 6-3 Sheffield Spartans
By Matt Johnson, Barons Press Officer

Solihull Barons have recorded back to back victories for the first time this season after a hard fought 6-3 win over Sheffield Spartans.

Goals from Tom Parker, Richard Slater, Toni Scialdone, Rob Eley and two from Erik Bakalar helped seal a result that leaves the Barons within touching distance of Coventry ENL Blaze and Nottingham Lions at the foot of the ENL North One table.

In a tight opening exchange, Barons defenceman Lee Winwood was controversially thrown out of the game by referee Blaine Evans for cross checking to the head – a decision that left the Barons bench incensed.

Tom Parker put Solihull ahead on the 17 minute mark with a fierce shot that squeezed through the Spartans netminder and they doubled their lead after 29 minutes when Richard Slater fired home, but the Spartans halved the deficit within a minute as the clash sprung into life.

Erik Bakalar tapped home in the final seconds of the second and slotted home early in the third to stretch the lead to 4-1, but a quick fire double from the Spartans with five minutes of the match remaining left Barons fans biting their fingernails at 4-3.

Chances came and went for Sheffield as Solihull clung onto their slender lead, but when Toni Scialdone mugged the Spartans of possession in their defensive zone and fired into the net, the tie was effectively over.

 

 

Rob Eley put the result beyond doubt a minute later, slotting home to round off a 6-3 victory that stretches the unbeaten run to three ahead of a crucial away double header against Sheffield and Nottingham Lions at the weekend.

Coaches are due to depart Hobs Moat Road at 4:20pm on Saturday (Sheffield) and Sunday (Nottingham) and can be reserved by contacting thesolihullbarons@gmail.com.

Goals: Scialdone, Eley, R Slater, Bakalar (2), Parker

Assists: R Slater (2), Andrews (2), Ayres, Lee, Hammerton

Man of the match: Luke Smith
 
Original photography courtesy of Keith & Jenny Davies