BCD Solway Sharks finally return to home ice this coming Saturday with a match against defending champions Blackburn Hawks (7pm face off). Sharks last played at home on 19 September – four weeks ago.
Last Sunday, the Sharks travelled to Blackburn but returned home without the points after a 5-1 defeat in East Lancashire.
Frazer Goldie made his seasonal debut on defence but couldn’t stop Hawks getting on the scoreboard twice in the first ten minutes. David Meikle (8.13) and Aaron Davies (9.55) were on target for the Hawks. Late in the opening session, Solway reduced the arrears with a short-handed unassisted goal from Juraj Senko (19.54).
Early in the second period, on the same powerplay, former Sharks forward Richard Bentham restored the two-goal lead at 21.03 which proved to be the only goal of the period.
The final frame saw the sides combine for 16 penalty minutes including double minors for roughing for Frazer Goldie and Hawks’ Oli Lomax. Blackburn’s Davies (49.33) and Bentham (57.58) added to the tally late on to give the scoreline a more one-sided appearance.
After the match Sharks head coach Martin Grubb said: “We are very disappointed with the result and yet again we are talking about too many team and individual mistakes costing us.
“We faced a very good Blackburn team who were hungrier than us and that really disappoints me. When you are low on confidence you need your big players to be leaders and we now need everyone to stand up and be counted as we prepare to face the Hawks again on Saturday.
“Everyone needs to pull in the same direction and we will turn this around as we have too much talent not to make an impact on the league.”
Saturday’s game at Dumfries Ice Bowl will see the two sides meet again, Sharks v Hawks facing off at 7pm. Tickets are on sale from the Ice Bowl reception from 6pm on the night. Tickets are priced at £8 adults, £5 concession and a family ticket (2+3) is £16.
