Solihull Barons – Sheffield Scimitars

Recap

The Direct Taxis Solihull Barons saw early game advantage drop away on Sunday evening as they fell to defeat at home by a slow starting but ultimately clinical Sheffield Scimitars.

With two minutes gone it was the Scimitars who struck first, a shorthanded 2 on 1 breakaway by Cameron Brownley who delivered the puck under Sam Hewitt for the opening goal of the evening. Two minutes later and Rich Slater equalised, carrying the puck up the left wing before cutting in late and slotting the puck under the exposed Thomas Hovell in the Sheffield net. An early game penalty to Sheffield “A” Steve Duncombe, gave the Barons a 5 minute powerplay after six minutes with Slater once more finding the net to put Solihull into the lead.Dan Mulcahy then eased the Solihull lead out further off of the same powerplay, flipping the puck over a prone Hovell for the Barons third. The remainder of the period was rarely played 5 on 5 as the Scimitars and to a lesser extent the Barons hit penalty trouble but there was to be no further scoring and the sides ended the first 20, 3-1 in favour of Solihull.

A minute into the second and Scimitars pulled back a goal, Harry Hopkin rounding the net and lofting the puck over Sam Hewitt’s glove hand. By the middle of the period it was all level – the Scimitars Scott Morris finding Ben Roebuck on Solihull’s open back post who then slotted home for the equaliser. The Barons were having to play much more in their own end for this period, with good chances on goal few and far between. It was not until three minutes of the period to go when they would regain the lead, Jordan Stokes with a neat pick up in central ice before darting in from the right wing for Solihull’s fourth.

The third period would remain scoreless until mid-period when a Sheffield breakaway allowed Ruskin Hughes to bring the Scimitars level, his shot from the left-hand circle rolling off Hewitt’s stick and into the net. With six minutes to go The Scimitars regained the lead for the first time since the middle of the first when Josh Yeardley slotted home through a messy goal crease for the go-ahead and ultimately game winning goal for the visitors.

The Barons are back in action at Hobs Moat again this weekend when they take on the Widnes Wild in a game rescheduled from the start of January. Note that this is our only regular season SATURDAY game, though the face-off is still the usual 5.30pm. The Wild have taken major strides this season, recently winning the Moralee cup and vying with the Barons for 3rd place in the league. They have proved a tricky side for Solihull this season – the away team won the ties in cup games, while the Wild have had the balance in both league games so far, albeit in close games. A tight game can be expected and it will be one the Barons will be determined to win to redress the balance.

See you there ! …..Saturday remember, 5:30pm ! #COYBARONS

Barons Man of the Match, Marcus Maynard

Scimitars Man of the Match, James Brownley