This Saturday the Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen (Dumfries) Ltd, welcome the first EPL club to visit Dumfries in the English Premier Cup when the Sheffield Steeldogs roll into the Shark Tank. Supporters can expect a thrilling game of ice hockey against one of the countries best teams who will be certain to ice two of their four imports against the Sharks. Face-off at Dumfries Ice Bowl is at the usual time of 7pm.
Last Saturday the Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen (Dumfries) Ltd, were on the road with what was likely to be their toughest fixture of the season at the Telford Tigers. Unfortunately for the Sharks they were missing their entire defence through work commitments and injury and were force to rely on Under 20’s and players playing out of position. This would be a hard enough task against any team in their own league but against the odds-on favourites to claim the English Premier League title it was immense. At the end of the young and inexperienced Sharks side lost thirteen-one but they can still hold their heads high from the manner in which they played.
Play began as expected with the home side poring forward towards Gary Russell’s goal and the Sharks defence was firmly on the back foot and they duly opened the scoring on the five minute mark when Peter Szabo found the net. The Sharks task didn’t get any easier when they found themselves a man down soon after the restart and Richard Plant doubled their advantage on the replay. The Tigers were eager to cash in on their domination and added two more goals through Peter Szabo and Daniel Davies before the nine minute mark.
Things were looking bleak for the Sharks but they dug deep and managed to stem the flow of goals with Richard Bentham in particular working hard at both ends of the rink. It was looking like the Sharks might make it to the first interval and the chance to reorganise when Maxim Birbraer stroked home goal number five on the eighteen minute mark.
Solway returned to the ice for the second period with their batteries re-charged and the tactical changes that they made during the interval seemed to be having an effect until Telford pounced on a loose pass and Macauley Heywood netted their sixth goal. However, the Sharks responded well and enjoyed their best passage of play with Bentham, Fowley, Tonnar and Horne all working hard to make inroads into the Telford defence and Ross Murray was unlucky not to score on a one-on-one breakaway.
In the thirty-second minute a Richard Bentham pass found Ross Connolly in front of the Telford goal. Ex-Whitley netminder Thomas Murdy was lightning fast to block the Sharks defenceman’s shot but young Duncan Speirs once more showed that he has the “Midas Touch” in front of goal when he pounced to slot home the rebound.
Solway’s joy was to be short-lived as Telford immediately responded and Slovakian Peter Szabo showed his class to restore the home side’s six goal advantage. The Sharks again responded well and looked capable of causing their hosts with the effort displayed by the entire team worthy of mention. Unfortunately for Solway, legs began to tire as the period drew towards its close and Telford were able to run in two more goals through Adam Taylor in the sessions final forty seconds to give a slightly flattering nine-one scoreline as the players left the ice.
In the final period Solway were again forced to battle hard to keep their heads above water but overall they did so admirably under the circumstances and Telford were held at bay for much of the period although they dominated possession and territory. Two goals either side of the sessions mid-way point through Macauley Heywood and James Smith extended the Tigers lead to nine but they had to wait until the closing minutes to score again.
With seven minutes remaining Coach Grubb decided to give young Kyle Johnston some valuable experience between the pipes against class opposition and the young Sharks netminder made several saves before Blahoslav Novak and Nathan Salem found the net in the closing ninety seconds of the game.
It is always difficult to accept a thirteen-one scoreline when you are used to winning but every Solway player who played in Telford can hold their heads high and contemplate the lessons that they have learned. Telford, as said previously, are odds-on favourites to win the English Premier League and were bigger faster and stronger than the Sharks and were lethal in front of goal. Solway did loose too many goals through not clearing their goal area and allowing the Tigers to score from close range. However, our young “D-men” should not be disheartened as they will learn from this game and over time will develop into stronger players from the experience.
The Sharks can also inform their supporters that it has been agreed that they will play the Whitley Warriors for the St Andrew’s Cup this season in a home and away fixture. The home leg will take place at the Ice Bowl on Saturday 11th of October, face-off 7pm, with the return in Whitley Bay on Sunday November the 9th. This match will run in conjunction with the IHUK’s Women’s International Day that will see various events taking place in Dumfries Ice Bowl throughout the day. Full details to follow.
