A THREE-GOAL salvo in just over a minute set Solihull Barons on their way to a commanding 5-0 victory over Sutton Sting on Sunday.
The Barons started as they intended to go on with a goal moments after the puck drop, when a cleanly struck effort from Niklas Ottosson flew out of the reach of Warren Gilfoyle into the net.
Sutton were prompted to push forward after going behind so early and applied some serious pressure on the Solihull defence, looking to take advantage of Barons keeper Josh Nicholls’ lack of match sharpness.
It would allow the Barons to break forward at blistering speed to try and strike on the counter-attack, but while both sides remained a threat, there was to be no further goals in the opening period.
By contrast, the second opened with the Barons firing three goals inside 80 seconds.
Adam Brittle was given the space to lift the puck over the advancing keeper, assisted by brother Luke, which started off the flurry of goals that proceeded.
50 seconds later it was 3-0 when former Olympic speed skater Paul Stanley drove through the centre and calmly slotted home, before Matt Maurice struck shortly after.
Barons did not relent and Ottosson put through Dave Rogers, who then found the net with a backhanded effort at the right-hand post.
The visitors threw numbers forward but were repeatedly thwarted by the impressive Nicholls – who stood firm in the Barons goal and saw out victory with a clean sheet.
It will prove to be a baron few weeks without a fixture for the Barons, with their next match coming against the Sheffield Steeldogs (A) on the 9th March, before returning to Hobs Moat against the Solway Sharks (6pm) the following day – their penultimate home league game of the season.
