By Xanthe Boursier-Gazzard

The Bristol Honda Pitbulls faced a narrow loss last night to the Solway Sharks, taking the game to overtime subsequent to an end-to-end battle.

The home team saw the return of Sam Smith and Ben Davies; however, they remained without Ewan Hill due to illness and Nick Pryce as a late scratch to the lineup through injury.

The first period got off to a scrappy start with both teams exchanging possession of the puck; Olivier Arseneau and Kyle Carruth took deflected shots for the Sharks, as well as Elliot Lewis and Sam Smith for the home side shooting just wide of the net. Despite a slower start to the period, the Pitbulls stepped up and took a lead twelve minutes into the game as Tanner Butler shuffled the puck past the crowd formed in front of the net to open the scoring. Both teams took penalties in the remaining minutes of the period, with Jay King launching a shot into the chest of Jordan Marr, who, in the meantime, was unable to light the lamp, leaving the home team one goal up after the first twenty minutes.

Solway was quick to equalise in the second period with John Dunbar navigating the puck to the back of the net just fifty seconds after puck drop; however, the Pitbulls were able to swiftly regain their lead following this as Kian Shevlin headed to the penalty box, allowing Bayley Harewood to slide the puck through Marrs’s pads on the power play. The roles reversed as another penalty was called, this time on the home team; however, Harewood chased his previous goal, skating the ice shorthanded and guiding the puck past Marr once again to gain a two-goal advantage. The away team was quick to reciprocate, however, getting two in quick succession from Dunbar and Gardiner, ending the second period with an even scoreline of three all.

The final period saw the Pitbulls kill a five-minute penalty call on Tanner Butler and return to full strength before the Sharks could score on the power play. Despite this, Dunbar managed a hat trick for the evening, putting the puck past Tommy Nappier, putting them in front, and applying pressure on the home side to equalise. Rhys Smetham was able to do this just under ten minutes later, as he sniped a shot past Marr’s reach, taking the game to an additional five minutes.

Overtime was briskly underway as both teams circled the puck back and forth from their offensive zones; however, it was Dunbar who was able to crash the net, taking the rebound shot and scoring backdoor to skate away with the two points.

Man of the Match for the visitors went to John Dunbar and to Rhys Smetham for your Bristol Honda Pitbulls.

Image : Pete Fears