SOLIHULL Barons were back on form with a convincing pair of wins against Telford Tigers and Sheffield Senators over the weekend which saw them resolidify their hold on third place in the Moralee division.
The weekend began on Saturday with a 7-4 win away at Telford and the Barons followed that up on Sunday with a comfortable 6-1 victory iver Sheffield in Solihull.
On Saturday they made the short trip to Shropshire to take on the Telford for a tricky tie that would have much to say about the end of season play-off points battle.
The visitors raced into to a convincing lead by notching up four goals without answer in the first 15 minutes courtesy of Tom Soar, Joe Henry and a pair from Josh Bruce.
The last of these two goals were scored within seconds of each other, despite Telford having the powerplay man advantage and this was the cue for the Tigers bench to call a timeout.
It had the desired effect in steadying the Tigers’ defence while putting their forwards back on the offence and James Smith pulled two goals back by period end to bring Telford back into the game.
The second period would have the sides trading goals, Niklas Ottosson finding the net for the Barons before a final period which would see Solihull ease their way the win with goals from Andy Whitehouse and Tom Soar.
On Sunday the Barons hosted the league’s basement side Sheffield Senators and the relative positions of the two sides was reflected in the activities on the ice.
By the end of the first period the Barons had notched up three goals without loss, perhaps the pick being the third of these as Josh Bruce skated up the left wing before cutting in square to the keeper to put the puck firmly in the back of the net.
While the Senators would have a few chances of their own in the second period it was the Barons who were still very much in control.
Despite their dominance in play the Barons would only extend their lead by a single goal through the middle twenty minutes – Tom Soar firing a pass from Ed Eaton into the roof of the Senators net for goal number four.
Early in the final period the Senator’s Jack Dransfield got his side on the scoreboard however the Barons were quick to restore and then extend the advantage.
Tom Soar fired home just after 45 minutes and shortly after Niklas Ottosson waltzed up the ice, selling Sheffield goalie Mark Hartley a dummy before coolly slotting into the space opened up in the Senator’s net, giving a final scoreline of 6-1.
The Barons will not have long to become reacquainted with the Senators as they travel to Sheffield on Saturday for the final meeting of the season between the teams.
On Sunday the Barons then face the tough but skilled Whitley Warriors for what could be the biggest game of the year.
