Solihull Barons – Billingham Stars

Recap

EDG Property Solihull Barons : 4
Billingham Stars : 3

The nail clinics and manicurists in Solihull were reported to be deluged with bookings late Sunday evening by Barons supporters looking to have their quicks attended to after a tense ending to an incredibly evenly matched Moralee clash between the Hobs Moat side and the visiting Billingham Stars.

After six and a half minutes the Barons were the first to put the puck in the net. A race up the ice by Niklas Ottosson and Phil Mulcahy saw their shots deflected before a trailing Dan Mulcahy picked up the rebound to slot the puck over Tom Brown’s right pad. The period would ebb and flow with the Stars picking up momentum over the latter stages but the Barons would retain their slender lead as the sides headed to the dressing room.

Five minutes into the second and the Stars drew level as a break up the ice by Shaun Galloway who passed off to James Moss who carefully slotted the puck beyond Graham Laverick and into the Barons net. Four minutes later and the Barons eased into the lead once more, a chase up the left wing by Dan Mulcahy was fed to Niklas Ottosson in the centre for Solihull’s second. The lead would be short lived with the Stars evening things up less than 3 minutes later, Chris Sykes finding the gap through a crowded Barons goalmouth for the visitors second. With 5 minutes left of the second the Barons lead was restored – Rich Crowe with a deft shot from the left hand circle on the powerplay. The Barons lead was extended to two goals a minute from the period end as Niklas Ottosson provided for Dan Mulcahy to give Solihull their fourth goal of the night.

By nine minutes into the third the Stars had pegged the Barons back to a single goal as Chris Sykes slotted home once more. With only a single goal in it, play became tense and at times a little eratic as Solihull fought to hold off the determined Teesiders. With eyes on the clock, the Solihull support were finally able to breath a sigh of relief as the home side did just enough to earn the win in another tight game in what is shaping up as a very closely matched Moralee league.

The Barons have an away trip to Deeside next Sunday before returning to home ice on Sunday the 8^th of October to take on the league’s new boys – the Hull Jets. The Jets have shown themselves to be competitive at Moralee level with a loss to Blackburn balanced by wins over Billingham and Deeside. Given this record and the Barons showing similar form, it will be the team who wants it most who will get the win on the 8^th. Make sure you get along to tilt the ice the Barons way in what promises to be a closely fought battle. Face-off 5.30pm.

Barons Player of the Game, Dan Mulcahy

Stars Player of the Game, Tom Brown

Weekend Round-up

Saturday 23^rd September

Blackburn Hawks : 4-5 : Billingham Stars
Hull Jets : 4-1 : Deeside Dragons
Sheffield Scimitars : 3-5 : Solihull Barons
Whitley Warriors : 4-1 : Widnes Wild

Sunday 24^th September

Deeside Dragons : 2-4 : Whitley Warriors
Nottingham Lions : 3-4 : Sheffield Scimitars
Widnes Wild : 0-5 : Blackburn Hawks