The Dynamic property services Solway Sharks made it 3 home games in a row with a match up against Swindon Wildcats, looking to claim a crucial 2 points to keep their playoff dreams alive. However, Swindon clenched the 2-4 victory after a clinical performance on the powerplay, leaving Solway 7 points behind the 8th place Telford Tigers.
Solway lined up with 16+2 as #9 Mason Alderson returned into the squad after serving his 4-game suspension. Meanwhile, Sharks still missed all 2-way agreement players and injured forward #15 Kieran Hair from the squad. Meanwhile the Wildcats also travelled with 16+2, missing #4 Jacob Minter from their previous game. It was a battle of the brothers between the pipes once more as #33 Jordan Marr was given the start for Solway, whilst Swindon opted for #30 Renny Marr.
1st period – (0-2)
Sharks headed to the penalty kill in the opening seconds of the game as #25 Connor Henderson headed to the box for hooking, giving Swindon an opportunity from the offset. Solway denied the Wildcats briefly, before #41 Vanya Antonov fired 5-hole past Marr on 2 minutes to give the visitors an edge early.
Swindon continued their offensive pressure, forcing #12 Kell Beattie to give up a slashing penalty at 5:52, putting Sharks on the PK once again. Seconds later, Wildcats were clinical on the powerplay, making it 2 from 2, as #11 Chris Jones fired a one-timer into an almost empty net after the fake deke from #72 Glenn Billing at 6:14. Solway’s #43 Nolan Gardiner created a chance of his own for Solway, but Marr dived on the puck to retain his side’s 2-goal lead.
Solway were handed a huge chance to half the deficit as Swindon Captain, #13 Sam Bullas sat for tripping at 11:03. However, a strong PK unit for the visitors denied Solway on the man advantage. Both sides created chances for the remainder of the period yet failed to find a way past either of the
Marr brothers to see Swindon take a 2-goal advantage into the middle frame.
2nd period – (1-1)
It was an uphill start to the 2nd period for the Sharks once more as #9 Mason Alderson was called for interference at 22:46. Once more, Swindon capitalised through their powerplay unit as #11 Chris Jones slotted the puck past Marr on the backdoor, following the feed from #72 Glenn Billing at 23:44 to extend the lead early in the frame.
Seconds later, Solway’s discipline slipped again as #6 Stuart Kerr sat for slashing at 23:51, but the Sharks PK unit denied a 4th straight powerplay goal for the Wildcats. The hosts upped their offensive pressure; however, Marr matched their efforts to prevent the Sharks reducing the deficit.
Frustrations started to spill for the Sharks as Marr continued to cover the puck on numerous occasions. Shortly after, both Solway GB u20 forwards, #21 Torran Anderson and #88 Kyle Carruth headed to the box for boarding and slashing respectively at 35:54 to put Sharks on a 3on5 penalty kill. It was Jordan Marr who made the difference for Solway, responding to every shot fired by the Swindon forwards to keep his side in fighting contention.
Sharks fired one final attempt on Renny Marr in the final seconds of the period as #43 Nolan Gardiner fired 5-hole from an almost impossible angle, after the thread from #10 Liam Stenton at 39:54 allowing Solway to reduce the deficit to 1-3 after 40 minutes of play.
3rd period – (1-1)
Swindon returned for the final period with intent to restore their 3-goal lead and did just so through #26 Jake Bricknell with a top-corner finish, assisted by #11 Chris Jones and #61 Sam Godfrey at 41:22. However moments later, Wildcats handed Sharks an opportunity to answer back as #3 Balint Pakozdi sat for delay of game at 42:07, but Marr denied the Solway forwards once more.
Solway stepped up the pressure and tested Marr on numerous occasions, forcing Swindon’s opening goal scorer #41 Vanya Antonov to give up a tripping penalty at 47:06. The Sharks finally capitalised on their PP as #22
John Dunbar roofed the puck over Marr at 48:20, with assists from fellow Canadians, #43 Nolan Gardiner and #5 Olivier Arseneau.
Tensions bubbled over again between the 2 sides, seeing #68 Callum Boyd and #77 Josh Shaw head to the box at 48:56 for co-incidental roughing penalties. Swindon tested Jordan Marr once more, but he made the stops to give Solway a chance at halving the deficit. The final penalty of the evening was handed to #73 Ed Bradley who sat for tripping, but Solway failed to convert the powerplay opportunity.
Solway threw everything they had at Marr in the final moments and opted to pull #33 Jordan Marr in favour of the extra forward, but the hosts failed to narrow the scoreline, seeing Swindon secure a 2-4 win on the road.
MVPs were awarded to #10 Liam Stenton for the Sharks after his consistency across both ends of the ice and assist on the opening goal. Meanwhile, #11 Chris Jones picked up the title for Swindon following his 2 contributions to the score.