Zoo Accounting Solihull Barons : 5
Whitley Warriors : 4

The Zoo Accounting Solihull Barons edged out the Whitley Warriors in an exciting game which saw the Barons build up a sizeable lead only for the Warriors to chip this down to leave a tense final five minutes.

The opening of the game was end to end stuff with both sides having chances but neither converting. Solihull’s best opportunity coming six minutes in as Phil Mulcahy just failed to pounce on a spilled puck from a Marcus Maynard shot. After nine minutes the Barons got the opener as a 2 on 1 breakaway by Phil Mulcahy and Niklas Ottosson gave Mulcahy the first goal of the night. The lead for the Barons doubled after 14 minutes, the puck once more finding Niklas Ottosson, this time square on goal 8 metres out who made the most of activity close in on goal to fool Warriors goalie Dean Bowater before he could reset for the shot. With one minute of the period to go the visitors, having just fended fended off a Barons powerplay, got their opener – Philip Edgar sweeping the puck beyond the outstretched left leg of Graham Laverick. More here…