Solway Sharks SNL team headed to the City of Discovery to take on the Dundee
Tigers on Saturday night in the Scottish Cup.
In a tightly contested opening period the Sharks took the only goal of the opening stanza when Captain Michael Corbett slotted home a rebound from close range.
The middle period saw eight goals in total, with the Tigers equalising after a minute when Scott Marr sent a pass toward the slot and Solway’s Connor Speirs redirected beyond his own goalie. Sharks then upped the tempo and played some of their best hockey of the season and raced into a three goal lead. Bob Chalmers netted his first set up by Tom Watson and Scott Henderson, before Gordon Horne found Chalmers again in the slot to fire home his double. A minute later Luke Houston (pictured) sent Henderson up the ice on a breakaway to give the Sharks a four-one lead at the midway point of the game.
After playing some of their best hockey so far this season, Solway followed up with a suicidal four minute spell that saw the Tigers score four unanswered goals to close out the middle period with a five-four advantage, Daniel Topping, Grant Reekie, Robbie Barnett and Kris Phillips netting for the hosts.
The Sharks came out looking to make amends in the final period; however some questionable officiating against both sides ruined the flow to the game. Tigers opened up a two goal cushion through Topping on 49:46 on the powerplay, however once back to full strength the Sharks kicked on and pulled it back to six-five through Horne 51:30.
With the Sharks turning the screw a bad hit on Chalmers and the few cuddles around the Tigers net that ensued saw Chalmers, Watson and Higgins penalised for the Sharks
with the latter being assessed a 5+ Game penalty for cross checking to the head.
This gave the Tigers a five minute powerplay to close out the game although the
Sharks pressed forward short handed. A goal at the death wasn’t to be on this
Occasion, and the Tigers held on to proceed to the next round of the Scottish Cup
against city rivals, Dundee Comets.
Sponsors selected men of the match went to Tiger’s Barnett and Sharks goalie Kyle Johnston.
Sharks SNL coach Jamie Kerr spoke after the match of his team’s performance. He said, “We started well and looked good going into the middle period, then kicked on to play some fantastic hockey. I think at 4-1 we subconsciously thought we were on easy
street and inadvertently switched off. That was a painful four minutes to endure
and has ultimately cost us. We showed some spirit in fighting back, and between
the game being interrupted by constant referee whistles and playing short handed
we just couldn’t get enough momentum back to sway the tie. I hope the guys take
away in hindsight the need to see out a game whether we are up a few or down,
the intensity and desire has to remain 100% at all times!”
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