Barons back on track as Stars fall

Recap

Airport Placements Limited Solihull Barons : 7
Billingham Stars : 5

The Airport Placements Solihull Barons put on their best team performance in some time with a solid and confidence inspiring win over the league’s second placed side the Billingham Stars on Sunday evening.

The first period showed that despite the long trip down from Teeside, the Stars were quick to shake off their bus legs and pose an immediate threat to the Barons. With the early minutes offering chances to both sides it would be the Stars who would strike first, Jack Watkins scoring in the eighth minute as the seconds ticked down on a Billingham powerplay. The visitors would then extend their lead mid-period, Dennis Bostrum doing the damage this time. The
Barons continued to push however and were rewarded in the fourteenth minute as Rich Slater rounded the net to tuck the puck into the Billingham goal and keep the Barons in contention heading to the dressing rooms.

The second period started brightly for the Barons, Niklas Ottosson getting an equaliser from just outside the crease, 22 seconds into the period. The Barons were then able to take the lead for the first time two minutes later, Matt Maurice shooting straight from the slot. There would be further chances for both sides through the middle period with the Barons generally seeing more of the puck but neither side managing any sustained period of high quality pressure on the opposition and there would be no scoring until just over a minute to go in the period. Matt Maurice would once more be the scorer, making the most of a sweet pass from Andy Whitehouse to execute a one-timer into the Stars net. The Barons two goal advantage would be short lived with the Stars Callum Davies scoring as the period end buzzer sounded.

Three minutes in to the final period and the visitors once more brought the scores level, Michael Elder dancing through the Barons zone for the Stars fourth goal. It would fall to Tom Soar to restore the Barons lead two minutes later as a careless Billingham giveaway aforded Soar all the time and space to get the Barons fifth goal.

Rich Slater would get his second of the night as the game entered the final ten minutes. The Stars once more coughed up the cup to a pressing Barons forward, Slater making no mistake from the right of the net. The two goal buffer would again prove fleeting, Callum Davies skating round a sprawled Sam Hewitt in the Barons net to peg the advantage back to a single goal.

Despite a missed Barons penalty shot, the home side would pick up the final goal of the night courtesy of Joe Henry to see the game end 7-5 in favour of the Barons.

The Barons next challenge is the final meeting of the regular season between Solihull and the Flintshire based Dragons at their Welsh rink this Sunday. The Barons will then face the tricky challenge of hosting league leaders the Solway Sharks on the 29th January, Face-off 6:00 pm.

Barons Man of the Match : Matt Maurice

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Elsewhere in the League

Telford Tigers 5 : 2 Blackburn Hawks
Whitley Warriors 7 : 5 Deeside Dragons
Sutton Sting 3 : 4 Blackburn Hawks