Solihull Barons 3 : 2 Whitley Warriors
24th March 2012
Erik Bakalar scored the Baron's opener and in doing so recorded his century of goals for the Solihull side. This was however very much a team effort with all the Barons playing their part. Here defenceman Eddie Slater carries the puck the length of the ice supported by Rob Eley.
Dale Buckland's second period tussle with the Warrior's Nathan Ryder seemed to spur the Barons on.
Barons Man of the Match, Lee Winwood
Warriors Man of the Match, Mark Good
Man of the match awards sponsored by the Jen & Keith Davies.

 

Turbulent season ends on perfect note
By Matt Johnson, Barons Press Officer

Solihull Barons treated the Hobs Moat Road faithful to an end of season classic after securing a 3-2 victory over league runners-up Whitley Warriors.

The end-to-end thriller, capped with a rare Barons win, has lifted the gloom around Solihull after nine straight defeats had threatened to shroud the summer, and next season’s preparations, in darkness.

Goals from Erik Bakalar, Rob Eley and Richard Slater were enough to secure the victory that has left fans and players alike smiling in tandem heading into the summer break.

The Warriors started the better and, to no one’s apparent surprise, took the lead in the 5th minute. But rather than curl back into their shell, Solihull sparked into action and began to dictate the tempo and were rewarded with an equaliser on the powerplay. Rich Slater picked up the puck from Lee Winwood behind the Whitley net and fed Erik Bakalar who squeezed home a low shot to notch his 100th career goal for the Barons.

A familiar lacklustre start to the second saw the Warriors regain their lead after 27 minutes, but when a fight between Dale Buckland and Nathan Ryder broke out two minutes later, the effect seemed to spur the home side on.

Rob Eley’s deflected thunderbolt on the powerplay after 32 minutes drew things level at 2-2, and when Slater slid home from Toni Scialdone’s cross just two minutes later, Solihull found themselves ahead for the first time.

A nerve-racking, toe-to-toe encounter in the final period followed with both sides missing guilt edge chances, but no further notes on the score card meant Solihull had clung on to a deserved win that kicks off the end of season party in perfect fashion.

Celebrations will be in full swing at the club’s end of season presentation evening which is being held on Saturday April 14 in the function room at Hobs Moat Road. Tickets for the event, which includes a buffet, are available now and are priced at £6 per person and can be reserved by contacting thesolihullbarons@gmail.com.   

Goals: Bakalar, Eley, R Slater
Assists: R Slater, Winwood, Thomas, Adams, Scialdone, Bakalar
Man of the Match: Winwood

 

Original photography courtesy of Keith & Jenny Davies