ICE HOCKEY: SOLIHULL Barons found themselves on the wrong end of close scorelines once again, losing to both Solway Sharks and Nottingham Lions at the weekend.
Following defeat to the Sharks on Saturday night, Barons were looking to gain some reward from the weekend against Nottingham on Sunday.
Like last week, Barons immediately had work to do as several key penalties resulted in the home side playing almost half of the opening period shorthanded.
Though Barons’ defence looked solid prior to the first penalty, Lions quickly worked a way through.
And on 11 minutes Joe Humphries made the most of the chaos around a melee of skates, legs and sticks in the Barons crease for the opening goal of the evening.
Four minutes later, Marc Levers made the most of Lions’ man advantage for Nottingham’s second, while Ruskin Hughes took a neat breakaway chance to slot the puck through Daniel Brittle’s legs for the visitors third goal of the evening.
Three goals down, Solihull needed a reply.
And they got it right at the start of the second period when Swedish forward Niklas Ottosson scored two short handed goals in the space of 15 seconds within a minute of the restart.
Lions restored their two-goal lead through Jakob Pniok as Solihull played with more discipline and direction.
The improved structure to Solihull’s play soon paid dividends as Ed Eaton scored Barons’ third goal before Ottosson secured his hat-trick to tie things up ahead of the final period.
Though both teams had chances to win the game, it was – ironically – ex-Baron Richard Slater, Solihull’s third most prolific scorer of all time, that scored the winning goal to sink Barons to another home defeat.
Barons are back on home ice this Sunday when they take on ex-EPL side, Hull Pirates.
The two sides have met once so far this season, with Solihull earning the points in a closely fought tie. Face-off is at 6pm.
