Match Summary: Sharks vs. Raiders and Phantoms
26.10.2024: Solway Sharks vs. Romford Raiders
The Dynamic Property Services-sponsored Solway Sharks welcomed the Romford Raiders to the Shark Tank for their first meeting of the season. This match coincided with the Sharks’ annual Halloween night, adding an exciting atmosphere as fans of all ages arrived in costume.
The Sharks capitalised on the home crowd’s energy just over two minutes into the game. Liam Danskin and Torran Anderson set up Kyle Carruth, who scored his first career national league goal, putting the Sharks ahead. The Raiders responded in the final five minutes of the first period with a goal from Zachary Yokoyama, and the teams went into the intermission tied 1-1.
Less than a minute into the second period, the Sharks took advantage of a power play when Mason Alderson passed to Nolan Gardiner, who fired a one-timer past Raiders netminder Ethan James, making it 2-1. Just two minutes later, Gardiner and Dunbar connected with Caly Robertson, who rifled a shot into the top corner, extending the Sharks’ lead to 3-1. In response, the Raiders called a time-out to regroup, and it worked. Just nine seconds later, Canadian import Andrew Shewfelt found the back of the net, narrowing the gap to 3-2.
As the second period progressed, the Sharks faced penalty trouble that proved costly. The Raiders capitalised, scoring the game-tying goal through Shaun Miller and then taking a 4-3 lead with a goal from Brandon Ayliffe. Demonstrating resilience, the Sharks equalised with a goal from Mason Alderson, and right before the period ended, Joe Coulter and Liam Stenton set up Lewis Young, who scored to give the Sharks a 5-4 lead heading into the third.
In the final period, the Sharks came out determined to secure a home victory. Scott Henderson made a beautiful pass to Torran Anderson, who displayed incredible skill, beating a defender and firing a perfect between the legs shot over the goalie – likely an early goal of the season contender. The rest of the period featured gritty play from both sides, culminating in a spirited fight between Caly Robertson and Zachary Yokoyama. The Sharks added another power play goal from Nolan Gardiner, concluding the match with a final score of 7-4 in their favour. Torran Anderson was named man of the match for the Sharks, while Andrew Shewfelt received the honours for the Raiders.
27.10.2024: Sharks vs. Peterborough Phantoms
The Sharks faced a challenging journey to Peterborough for their second game in as many nights. Having previously beaten the Phantoms 7-2, the home side was eager for redemption. This match also marked the return of netminder Jordan Marr, who had made a significant impact during his time with the Phantoms.
The game began scrappily, with both teams exchanging scoring chances. The Phantoms struck first with a well-placed shot from Callum Buglass, ending the first period 1-0 in favour of the home team.
The Sharks came out stronger in the second frame, shaking off any lingering bus fatigue. Caly Robertson found John Dunbar, who executed a saucer pass to Nolan Gardiner, levelling the score at 1-1. However, the Phantoms quickly responded with a goal from Scott Robson, regaining the lead. As the second period ended, Jordan Marr made several acrobatic saves, providing a momentum boost for the Sharks heading into the final period.
Early in the third, the Sharks equalised again, thanks to a no-look pass from Dunbar to Gardiner, who slid the puck past Phantoms netminder Hayden Lavigne. Unfortunately for the Sharks, the tie was short-lived; the Phantoms scored again with a point shot from Cameron Hugh. The Sharks struggled with penalties, limiting their chances to tie the game. Despite pulling Marr for an extra attacker in the closing moments, the Sharks were unable to find the equaliser, ultimately falling 3-2. Jordan Marr was named man of the match for the Sharks, while Cameron Hough earned the honours for the Phantoms.
Captain of the Sharks, Liam Stenton, had this to say regarding the results on the weekend,
“Saturday was a great all-round performance with every player in the team contributing in some way. We showed spells of how good we can really be when we play our game and focus on ourselves.
Sunday was a little different for us with the long bus journey, we pushed the game to the wire and fought right until the final buzzer. It just wasn’t to be for us”
Next Games
The Sharks return home to the Shark Tank for a doubleheader against the Swindon Wildcats on Saturday, November 2nd at 7 PM and Sunday, November 3rd at 5 PM. Be sure to catch these exciting matches by securing your tickets through the Sharks website, https://sharksihc.com/tickets/ , or in person at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. Don’t miss out!
