Widnes Wild – Solihull Barons

Recap

While Saturday’s game was a dead rubber in terms of league places, the Zoo Accounting Solihull Barons would have been disappointed to leave Widnes on Saturday without the win over their upcoming play-off rivals the Wild.

The opening twenty was a tight affair reflected in the fact that the Wild’s opening goal, a Nathan Britton effort after eleven minutes, was immediately countered by Sam Chandler for the Barons. The Barons would squeak into the lead just as the first period buzzer was about to be triggered, Andy Whitehouse finding the net with a second to go.

While the first period had been fairly even, the second saw the home side exert their influence. The Wild fired home three goals without answer – Danny Hand, Matt Barlow & Mikey Gilbert giving the home support plenty to cheer about and send the teams to the dressing rooms separated by two goals.

Within seconds off the third period start, the Wild had stretched their goal cushion to three – Bez Hughes this time for the Cheshire side. The Barons were down but not quite out –  Sam Chandler and Phil Mulcahy scoring mid-period to cut the deficit to a single goal. Graham Laverick was pulled from the net in the final minute to offer the Barons an extra attacking option but it was not to be and the Wild ultimately edged it,

The Wild and Barons will not have long before reacquainting themselves having been drawn together in the two-legged play-off quarter finals. On the Saturday the Barons play host at Hobs Moat – face-off 5.30pm. The sides then meet in Widnes to decide the matter, the aggregate winner heading to the final-four weekend in Altrincham on the Weekend of the 8th & 9th April.

BARONS MAN OF THE MATCH, SAM CHANDLER