Lookers of Yardley Solihull Barons : 7
Telford NL Tigers : 5

With play-off places at stake and with a tight battle for the unclaimed spots, the two points on offer in Sunday's Midlands Derby would go a long way to securing either sides claim for a trip to Sheffield. It would however be the Lookers of Yardley Solihull Barons who would take home the spoils in what was a closely fought but decisive victory over the Telford Tigers.

The first period showed two evenly matched sides setting their stalls out with a first ten minutes dominated by high tempo hockey. There were however to be relatively few clear chances for either side as tight, stick clashing, defence prevented much consistent offensive pressure developing at either end of the ice.

It would be the Barons who would find the net first, Dave Rogers seizing on a puck from Josh Bruce for the evening's opener. The lead would hold for five minutes before Philip Mulcahy would draw the Tigers level.

The second period had barely begun before a slashing penalty had the Barons a man down and Telford did not need asking twice as Callum Bowley slotted the puck home for the visitors. Within a minute the Barons had levelled things up, Joe Henry putting the puck in the Telford net off of an offensive end face-off. The Tigers would regain the lead once more thanks to another powerplay opportunity, Daniel Croft pulling the puck back to the blue line where a waiting Corey Goodison made no mistakes with his shot. By just over the half hour the game had become more expansive and the Barons would bring things level as Andy Whitehouse and Rob Eley combined to give Matt Maurice the equaliser.

The final period started brightly for the Barons, Josh Bruce firing in number four for Solihull a minute into the period. Two minutes later and Andy Whitehouse, finding himself breaking up the ice but with little options open, fired in a speculative shot as he crossed the blue line to surprise Dennis Bell in the Telford net and give Solihull a two goal lead for the first time in the game. More Barons goals would follow with Rob Eley getting a popular goal in his final season for the Barons and this advantage would be reinforced by Dave Rogers getting number 7.

The Tigers maintained focus and were rewarded with a pair of goals late on but the damage had been done by Solihull in the first five minutes of the period and the home side took the victory.

The Barons have a long haul weekend coming up. On Saturday evening they take on Dumfries side the Solway Sharks before travelling to the North-East's Whitley Bay on Sunday. The team are next back on their own ice on Sunday 6th March when the Sheffield Senators come calling. Face-off 6:00pm.

v Tigers

Barons goals : Rogers(2), Bruce, Eley, Maurice, Whitehouse, Henry Barons assists : Bruce(2), Maurice, Henry, Whitehouse, Selwood, Eley, Rogers Barons MoM : Dave Rogers

NEXT HOME GAME SUNDAY 6th March The Barons next home game is against basement side the Sheffiled Senators. The Barons have quite a tough run into the end of the season and there is a lot of competition for the final play-off spots. Making sure focus is maintained and all available points are collected is the number one goal for Perry and the boys. Make it loud and ensure the Barons have that extra man on the ice ! Sunday 6th March Face-off : 6:00pm Adults £8 : Concessions £4 Family ticket £24 (2 adults and up to 3 children)