Solihull Barons – Billingham Stars

Recap

Zoo Accounting Solihull Barons : 1
Billingham Stars : 2

The Zoo Accounting Solihull Barons lost out in a closely fought, but low scoring tie against the Billingham Stars on Sunday evening in a game where the momentum gradually shifted from the Barons to the Stars as the game wore on.

The first period would be a scoreless one and one which started relatively slowly but whose pace built toward the end of the twenty. The Barons best chance perhaps was perhaps in the final minute of this, in a goal mouth scramble centred around Richard Slater but which was ultimately snuffed out when Stars goalie Tom Brown smothered the puck.

The second period picked up pretty much where the first had ended with lots of chances at both ends but no conclusive finshes from either side. The deadlock was finally broken six minutes into the second as Niklas Ottosson found himself square in front of Tom Browns goal and shot between the Star’s goalies legs to open the scoring. The Barons nearly lost their lead within a minute when a Laverick clearance from well out of his net fell to a Star, who missed the open net and instead hit the post, the resulting rebound then hitting Laverick before narrowly missing the goal once more. The Stars would however equalise with just under 5 minutes remaining of the period as a 4 on 1 breakway gave their players’ plenty of options and Chris Sykes made no mistakes for the visitors’ opening goal.

Four minutes into the third and the Stars eased their way into the lead as Chris Sykes fed Michael Elder who fired home from a couple of metres outside the left hand crease boundary. The Stars then largely controlled the play and despite some late opportunities the Barons just could not find a way past the confident and competent Tom Brown for the equaliser.

The Barons will not have long to wait before encountering Billingham again as they head to Teeside on Saturday to play the Stars. On Sunday we have our last home tie before the playoffs when we welcome champions designate the Solway Sharks – hope to see you all there! #COYB

Barons Man of the Match, Niklas Ottosson

Stars Man of the Match, Tom Brown

Next Home Game – 19th March