MATCH REPORT – SOLWAY SHARKS 9 MANCHESTER MINOTAURS 1
SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2015
The Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen (Dumfries) Ltd, face a crucial double header this weekend as the race to qualify for the end of season playoffs hots up.
Sheffield Spartans visit the Shark Tank on Saturday night (7pm faceoff) before the Sharks travel to Billingham Stars on Sunday evening (6.30pm). The top four sides in the league table will contest the playoff weekend – Blackburn Hawks have qualified as league winners, while five teams battle for the remaining three spots.
Last Saturday, the Sharks welcomed Manchester Minotaurs to the Shark Tank looking to snap a three-game losing streak and get back on the playoff track. Solway iced a strong lineup with captain Alan Crane and Gary Russell back from work commitments while a number of the club’s Scottish National League prospects also stepped up to the senior team.
Sharks dominated the first period but couldn’t find a way past Manchester goalie Aran Fox, who made several top drawer saves to keep the home team at bay. Solway finally broke the deadlock in the final minute of the period as Ross Murray’s centreing pass was tapped home by Steven Moore at the back post.
The pressure continued at the start of period two, and Callum Henderson was on hand three minutes in to double the advantage with a well taken goal. Despite the Minotaurs being bottom of the league, they continued to work hard and their efforts were rewarded with Tomas Hnilica’s goal just past the half way point of the game. For all the Sharks’ pressure it was still just a one-goal game.
Solway put the game to bed with a devastating purple patch with four goals in under four minutes. Stuart Kerr netted his first senior goal at 33.13, quickly followed Joe Coulter’s effort at 34.10.
Another first senior goal followed – this for Ross Connolly at 35.18 before Stevie Adams round off the stunning period of play with the Sharks’ sixth at 36.58. All in all the four goals covered just three minutes and forty-five seconds.
The final period saw the home side tally three more goals – with a third player scoring his first senior goal. Tom Watson, in his first game for the NIHL side, made it 7-1 with ten minutes to play 
before Steven Moore bagged his second (52.38) and Pavol Melichercik round off the scoring inside the final two minutes.
Coach Scott McMeeken, running the bench in the absence of Martin Grubb who was unwell, said after the game: “We took a while to find our rhythm but once we scored the first goal we settled and in the second period particularly playe some very good hockey.
“We’re coming into the business end of the season and every game from now on is crucial – it’s important to finish as strongly as possible and get some momentum going into the playoff weekend.”
McMeeken also praised the three 16-year-olds who scored their first senior goals in the game.
“Stuart Kerr and Ross Connolly have played a lot of minutes this year, more than we may have liked at times, but they’ve done a great job and their goals tonight were a reward for those efforts. Tom Watson, another 16 year old, has come in for his first game and got himself in the right position and he also scored. The whole team are delighted for them.”
Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen (Dumfries) Ltd, currently fourth in the Moralee Division 1 table with 20 points from 18 games. Billlingham and Sutton are just above on 21 points while Blackburn confirmed themselves as league champions on Sunday.
Saturday’s home game against Sheffield Spartans faces off at 7pm and tickets are available on the door from 6pm.
Pictures © Sharks/Skidpix
