Solway Sharks, sponsored by Building Craftsmen (Dumfries) Ltd, host their penultimate home game of the season on Saturday with fellow playoff chasing Sutton Sting the visitors to the Ice Bowl (7pm face off).
Last weekend the Sharks played two games, winning at home to Sheffield Spartans 4-1 before going down 6-3 on Teesside to Billingham Stars on Sunday evening.
Saturday’s game at the Shark Tank saw Solway icing another strong lineup with Gary Russell between the pipes. The home side were on the attack from the first puck drop and made opposing goalie Brandon Stones work hard to keep the score level.
Solway got their reward with two goals just 30 seconds apart in the eighth minute. Defenceman Stuart Andrews was on hand to score his first goal for the club at 7.26 before Duncan Speirs doubled the lead with a well taken effort at 7.56.
The physical nature of the game threatened to boil over in the first period with three separate bouts of fisticuffs resulting in 50 penalty minutes being handed out by the officials.
Sheffield reduced the arrears in the 28th minute only for Ross Murray to restore the two goal advantage with a powerplay goal at 34.06 and Sharks went to the second interval 3-1 to the good.
The final period was controlled by Solway, with another 15 shots on the Sheffield net, but only one more goal was scored. Steven Moore finished a neat passing move on another powerplay with just 79 seconds left.
On Sunday in Billingham, Bob Chalmers returned to the lineup in place of Marc Fowley. Like Solway, Billingham had played and won the previous night and with the teams placed second and third respectively it was a big game in terms of playoff qualification.
Solway got off to the best possible start as captain Alan Crane fired them in front with a blast from the point on the powerplay just four minutes into to the game. The home side levelled at 6.04 
with a powerplay goal of their own and it was 1-1 at first break.
Billingham tallied at the start and end of the middle session to lead 3-1 as the Sharks found home goalie Mark Watson in top form. It became 4-1 early in the third period before Pavol Melichercik shot and scored a powerplay goal at 48.56.
The comeback was shortlived as Billingham countered with another powerplay effort at 54.15. Steven Moore gave late hope with a third goal for the visitors, but the Stars wrapped up the win after Billingham fired into an empty net with Gary Russell on the bench in favour of an extra attacker. Final score was 6-3 to Billingham Stars.
Solway head coach Martin Grubb was frustrated with his side’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ performances this weekend.
“Last weekend we set a target of four points and got of to a good start with a win at home to Sheffield.
“I felt we controlled that game and played some good passing hockey and it meant Sheffield had to resort to breaking the game up but we managed the puck well and I was pleased with Saturday.
“Sunday was the complete opposite as I thought we were very poor and what disappointed me more was that was a game we had a chance to win and go second but I felt our desire was lacking and we lost to the hungrier team in a game littered with mistakes.”
In the NIHL Moralee Division 1 standings, Solway are third with 22 points from 20 games. Bilingham have 25 points in second place. Sharks next opponents, Sutton Sting, are in the fourth and final playoff spot with 21 points.
The Playoff Weekend is at Dumfries Ice Bowl on 11 & 12 April with two semi finals on the Saturday and the Final on Sunday afternoon. Ticket details will be released next week.
Saturday’s home game against Sheffield Spartans faces off at 7pm and it will be preceeded by the club’s Scottish National League side playing their Autumn Cup Final first leg at 4pm.
One partner. No competitors. Visible across local sport.
