Solway Sharks Juniors U20s team brought their league season to a close in Auchenharvie travelling to take on opponents North Ayrshire in a midweek fixture.
Starting the game in a positive frame of mind, Solway were quick to show their expertise and teamwork, with a fine display of offensive, passing play. Dictating the play and the pace of the game, the Sharks attacks put N Ayr on the back foot, and their netminder soon found himself under a barrage of shots. It took 13 minutes before Daniel Abercrombie eventually found a way through, taking a Vicky Carson pass and sending it straight past the keeper to the back of the net, to the delight of the travelling support. Continuing to control the tempo of the game, Solway maintained their dominance, going into the first break 1 goal to nil ahead.
The second period saw play continue apace, Scott Henderson drawing first blood with a fine unassisted goal straight from the face-off after a mere 7 seconds, before more fast, attacking play from the Sharks. Abercrombie scored next, on 30:13, Speirs and Henderson assisting, to bring the score to 3-0. When N Ayr snuck a puck past Calum Hepburn in the Solway net to score a minute later it was much against the run of play, but Solway were quick to reply through Henderson on 33:18, this time assisted by Speirs and Abercrombie. The end of the period saw the Sharks with a comfortable 4-1 lead.
The final period again saw a strong Solway start, a Kieran Hair play from the face-off sending Lewis Houston to the net, where he slotted it home for the fifth goal on 40:17. Again the Sharks proved they were the stronger, more organised team and North Ayrshire could do little except defend as much as they possibly could. Abercrombie scored again on 56:17 after some fine play, ably assisted by Carson and Solway Netminder Hepburn, for his hat-trick goal and the team’s sixth, in what was to be the last goal of the game. Vicky Carson was player of the game for Solway.
After the game coach Jamie Thomson said, “A mid week game like this is not something we are used to so we travelled a little light on numbers, but still managed a convincing display versus a very hard working team in North Ayr. 6-1 doesn’t really tell the true story as we really coasted through the final period, but it was good to get the season put to bed with a win. The entire squad has been great this season, we are one of the very few squads that make sure everyone plays a part as much as possible and we still remain competitive. A special mention after today’s game must go to Vicky Carson; Vicky hasn’t been playing as long as most of the team and is one of only 2 girls in our squad, but she competes week in week out, never complains, plays her role in the team and is always in a positive mood. She gets stuck in and tonight she got a reward with 2 cracking assists and very nearly a goal herself resulting in the player of the game award – awesome stuff!
Overall this was the perfect end to the regular season, a season that we can feel a little hard done by as I still believe we have the best full squad in the league, but this year a few injures and players being called up to the senior team on a regular basis means we stumbled a couple of times and didn’t take the overall title. That being said it is a sign of success better than any silverware at this level to see so many young players make the move up to the next level so, I can’t be too disheartened by that about it.”
Attached photo shows Vicky Carson.
