SOME you win, some you lose.
It turned out to be a mixed weekend of league action for the Deeside Dragons, who managed to make the most of home comforts with a 4-0 triumph versus Solihull Barons.
However, this followed a defeat on the road.
Dragons opened their weekend with a 9-6 defeat from their trip to Hull Jets.
Hull managed to build-up a 3-1 advantage by the end of the first period, with Jakub Hajek on target for the away side.
Hajek’s next goal cut the deficit to just one towards the beginning of the second period and it remained nip-and-tuck until the next break.
Hull always kept their noses in front, but strikes from Ross Kennedy and MVP Garry Simpson made sure it was 5-4 with one period left to play.
Six more goals would arrive in the final period, with four going the way of the Jets to make sure of their success. Dragons responded through MJ Clancy and Kennedy.
Dragons’ assistant head coach Matt Compton admitted: “We just didn’t bring our game.
“We got away from what we do and we just lost our way a bit. We got away from our game plan.
“We don’t concede nine goals. We had a tough start to the season when we did.
“We got away from what we’re doing in our defensive zone.”
Reflecting on the game, Cade King told the Puck ‘N’ Roll podcast: “I think offensively we were obviously very good, got six goals.
“But defensively we let ourselves down. Too many odd man rushes, a lot of back door goals.”
Some 24 hours later and Dragons were back at home for their encounter with Solihull Barons.
If there were defensive issues during the previous loss, that cannot be said on this occasion and goaltender Matt Croyle was named MVP as Deeside managed to shut out their opponents.
Dragons had the lead with five minutes of the first period remaining via Jared Dickinson’s goal, before James Shaw doubled the tally close to the midway point of the match.
There was no final period fightback from the Barons and goals from Hajek and Marc Lovell marked a welcome return to winning ways for Deeside.
“The big thing on Sunday before the game was everybody could do better, including me,” said Compton.
“We’ve all got to do better and think about being a good team-mate.
“We responded so well on Sunday. Every line contributed with goals.
“You could see we were well up for it and we had a point to prove.”
Other results: Leeds 1 Billingham 10; Blackburn 4 Nottingham 1; Sheffield 3 Leeds 0; Widnes 4 Whitley 7.
Deeside Ducks’ team were without a game at the weekend and are now preparing for a big home match against title favourites Telford Tigers on Sunday.
Looking back over the season so far, Ducks’ head coach Gary Shaw said: “The players have a good base to work from and we just need them to play as a unit on the ice and play as a group of five and not individually.
“For the next few weeks we will be trying to get the players to be more aggressive in the plays that they are doing, to get the opponents to turn the puck over and create more scoring chances for us.”
Results: Sutton 10 Bradford 2; Telford 8 Sheffield 2; Billingham 3 Altrincham 2; Bradford 7 Nottingham 3.
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