By Matt Johnson

Solihull Barons turned in a memorable performance despite losing 7-4 in a truly pulsating encounter with rivals Telford Titans.

The Barons dominated for long spells and were unfortunate not to get a more positive result from the game after fighting back from 5-1 down to put the Titans within touching distance at 5-4.

Two last gasp strikes on the counter from the visitors put pay to the Barons hopes of securing their first points of the campaign, but they had showed the kind of spirit and grit that will stand them in good stead for the rest of the season.

The ill-tempered affair started sluggishly, but the Titans drew first blood on seven minutes as former Baron Karol Jets squeezed his long range effort past Hayden Laverick.

Solihull couldn’t get going and further period strikes from Jets and Daniel Taylor left them down in the dumps at 3-0.

But the home side emerged a different team from the dressing room for the start of the second. The slick passing, tempo and movement that had so far deserted Captain Adam Andrews and his team this season was there, despite the Titans extending their advantage to 4-0 just 20 seconds after the restart.

Eddie Slater started the comeback when he smashed his blue line effort past the helpless Titan netminder, but Telford struck back immediately to restore their four goal advantage.

Charlie Hammerton cut the deficit to three in the dying embers of the period after he pounced on debutant Mike Rodger’s shot to give his side a real impetus at 5-2 heading into the third. And what was to follow was truly dazzling.

Solihull had Telford pegged back in their defensive zone for a huge chunk of the period, playing with the kind of confidence and cohesion that would trouble any side.

Richard Slater hit a fine individual effort after only 11 seconds to continue the fight back and when Toni Scialdone tapped into an unguarded net from a five-on-three power play to make it 5-4, the Barons looked a sure bet to grab a leveller.

Solihull continued to press and went close to equalising through R Slater, Rodger and Erik Bakalar, but the brave comeback was ripped at the seems when Ryan Santon started and finished a swift counter-attacking move that virtually secured the points for the away side.

Telford added a seventh on the counter 18 seconds from time to seal the victory, but the Barons will take great heart from a gutsy showing and on another day, they could have easily come away with the points.

Goals: E Slater, Hammerton, R Slater, Scialdone

Assists: Ayres, Rodger, Thomas, R Slater

Penalty Minutes: Thomas (12), Scialdone (4), Rodger (10), Andrews (2), Whitehouse (2), R Slater (2), Winwood (2)