Barons on Top in Fifteen Goal Festive Feast.

By Gareth Thomson

The Sheldon Jewellery Centre Solihull Barons gave their fans a late Christmas gift as they came out on top in an entertaining and goal filled holiday period ice hockey fixture.

The game, part of the inter-league Midlands Cup, pitched the Barons against division 1’s Telford Titans in front of nearly 600 hockey fans. With the Titans short-benched due to the holidays, their roster for the night was bolstered by a couple of Barons players keen to see whether they looked good in orange and black.

The game also marked the return to the Hobs Moat Rink of veteran Perry Doyle, who pulled on a Solihull shirt for the first time in over a decade and immediately made his mark with a powerplay goal within the first three minutes of the puck-drop.

The Titans countered however, with Telford’s assistant captain Ed Eaton soon drawing the sides level and getting the first goal in what was to be hat-trick for him.

Joshua Hustwick pulled Telford into the lead while the Barons Neil Adams restored the balance before the close of the first period.

The scoreline continued to see-saw for the entire second period, with neither team being to pull out more than a two goal lead before being pegged back to see the sides level at six goals a piece by the forty minute mark. Notable among the Barons goals was Under-18 squad member Sam Hammerton’s first in the senior squad to match one by his older brother Charlie.

With things tightly matched going into the final period and Telford pushing for the win, right wing Rich Slater showed his class, punishing lapses in the Titan’s lines twice in short handed situations to bring the win home for Solihull.

A consolation goal by the Telford captain Owen Bennett was too late to impact the result but did give rise to a tense final five minutes for the Barons faithful.

The Barons return to league action this weekend as they travel to North Wales to take on the Deeside Dragons, a win being crucial to ensure Solihull maintain pressure at the top of Division 2.

The following weekend, Sunday 13th January sees the highly effectively young Sheffield Senators travel to Solihull to take on the Barons in what will be a thrilling hockey game. Face-off 6pm.

Goals : Doyle, Adams (2), R Slater (2), C Hammerton, S Hammerton, Andrews
Assists : Crowe, Brindle, Bakalar, C Hammerton
Man of the Match : Richard Slater

Next Home Game 13th January 2013 The Barons head off to Deeside this weekend but will be back home the following weekend to take on the well drilled and motivated Yorkshire squad in what will be a closely fought tie. Face-off : 6pm Adults £6 : Concessions £3 Family ticket £16 (2 adults and up to 3 children)