Building Craftsmen Dumfries-sponsored Solway Sharks returned from their midlands double header with just a single point after a 3-3 draw in Telford on Saturday night and a 3-1 defeat in Solihull 24 hours later.
The Sharks are on in the midst of a four-week road trip and continue their travels this coming Saturday with a NIHL Cup tie on Teesside against Billingham Stars (5pm face off). They return to Dumfries Ice Bowl on Saturday 20 February when Billingham will again be the opponents.
Last weekend’s double header began in Telford and the Sharks made a bright start jumping into a 2-0 lead after 17 minutes – Steven Moore and Duncan Speirs (powerplay) with the goals.
Telford reduced the arrears at 32.08 making it a one-goal game at the end of the second period. Iain Bowie’s strike at 47.11 restored the two-goal cushion, only to be cancelled out 65 seconds later by Callum Bowley for Telford setting up a grandstand finish.
The home side Tigers pulled their goalie in the last minute for an extra attacker and the gamble paid off as Joshua Hustwick fired past Kieran Hobbins with just one second remaining in the game meaning the points were shared with a final score of 3-3.
From Telford in Shropshire the squad travelled to Solihull for Sunday night’s game with third-placed Barons.
This time it was the home side who were off to a flying start, Solihull scoring at 6.11 and 8.17 to lead 2-0 – this despite the Sharks outshooting their hosts 26-13 in the first period.
Indeed Solway would finish with a 58-39 shot tally, but Barons goalie Sam Hewitt was on top form making 57 saves all told.
The middle session was scoreless, though the Sharks had five powerplay chances without finding a way past the Solihull special teams.
Early in the final frame Solihull made it 3-0 through Niklas Ottosson (42.25) before Sharks finally broke their duck at 55.53 with James Wallace converting Steven Moore’s pass.
The final few minutes saw tempers frayed and players clashed after an incident in front of Kieran Hobbins’ goal and referee Kevin Biggs handed out over 120 minutes in penalties and time was played out to a Solihull win.
Sharks head coach Martin Grubb reflected on the weekend, saying: “We were very disappointed not to come away with two points in Telford and it was tough to lose a goal with just a second left but that is what happens when you don’t take your chances to put the game away.
“In Solihull we again are left talking about our lack of goal scoring ability as we made their goalie look good. Solihull worked harder than us and turned it in to a wrestling match which is their type of game.
“We had an opportunity to move up the table and didn’t take it and we now need to decide whether we have the desire to make the playoffs and prove it.”
This coming weekend the Sharks are again on their travels with an NIHL Cup tie in Billingham on Saturday night (5pm). In the corresponding Cup tie at Dumfries Ice Bowl, Billingham took the points 5-4 after a penalty shoot out, the game ending 4-4 at the end of normal time.
Solway Sharks return to home action on Saturday 20 February when Billingham visit the Ice Bowl in league play. Also that evening supporters will have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the NIHL North playoff weekend which is in Sheffield on April 9 & 10. Tickets for the weekend, which will feature six games for both Moralee and Laidler Division titles, are £30 for adults and £15 for under 16s.
Weekend scoring: Saturday – Speirs 1+1, Bowie & Moore 1+0, Coulter, Adams, Senko and Fulton 0+1. Net: Hobbins 26 shots, 23 saves. Sunday – Wallace 1+0, Moore 0+1. Net: Hobbins 39 shots, 36 saves.
