Recap

TC Cars Solihull Barons : 8
Billingham Stars : 2
EIHA Moralee Division

After the previous evening’s disappointment away at Sutton, the TC Cars Solihull Barons made sure of the points with a convincing win over the Billingham Stars on Sunday.

Matt Maurice of Solihull was the first player to find the net as a pass back from the crease by Andy Whitehouse found Maurice on the right hand circle with the number 15 slotting home past a disorientated Thomas Brown in the Stars net. The Barons then survived a spell two men down as a trio of near simultaneous penalties threatened the narrow lead. The Barons second of the night then came with a little over four minutes of the first period left, Tom Soar advancing down the right wing before cutting the puck back to Callum Bowley skating in toward the crease.

Six minutes into the second period and the Barons made the most of a 5 on 3 powerplay to get goal number three, Tom Soar trickling the puck through the pads of Brown. With 5 minutes of the period gone, it would again be Soar who found the net, a little short range shot floated over Brown’s gloved hand. A minute later and he was at it again, notching up a hat trick in ten minutes, with a shot from three metres out. Billingham, playing strongly on the break, would finally get their name on the scoresheet with a round the net effort drawing Sam Hewitt to the far post and his stretched leg not quite protecting the near post – Michael Elder getting the goal.

Into the third and the Barons continued to grow their lead when, three minutes in, Niklas Ottsson found the space and picked his spot for Solihull goal number 6. Ottosson would also be the scorer of goal number 7 as a short handed Barons, emerging from a spell of 5 on 3, broke away with their returning man for a 3 on 1 to which the Stars proved defenceless. The Barons would notch up number 8 while also being a man down, Matt Maurice steering the puck into the Stars net with a short range deek and in.

With two minutes to go, the Stars got their second, though in reality this was little more than a consolation goal after Solihull netminder Sam Hewitt committed himself well out of the crease and when he failed to clear the puck, the Stars Craig Thurston made the most of the empty net.

This weekend the TC Cars Solihull Barons face the Whitley Warriors in one of the most anticipated fixtures of the calendar so far. The sides have met twice so far this season, both times at the Hillheads rink with Whitley collecting the full tally of points. While the first of these ties was a comfortable win for the Warriors the second was a much closer affair and the Barons will be fancying their chances on home ice. Please note that this is a SATURDAY game but with face-off at our regular 5:30pm slot.

Barons Man of the Match, Tom Soar