Despite a week of hard preparation the Sting's eagerly awaited match with the current ED2 league leaders, Solway Sharks, proved to be a big disappointment at Ice Sheffield yesterday as the home side suffered a crushing 1-7 defeat as the Sharks extended their 100% winning record to 14 games which gives them a very commanding position at the top of the ENL D2 North.

In front of another packed arena the Sting were hopeful of upsetting the Sharks in their third meeting of the 2011/12 campaign but within 30 seconds of the start of the game the Sharks took the lead and they never looked back grabbing 4 goals in the first period which put the game beyond the Sting and seemingly all hope of automatic promotion too.

After the game Sting player/coach Simon Offord reflected on the game and said "Solway are a very good team and they showed-us today just how good they are. I have had a hockey lesson today from Solway and all credit to them they are just better than us!"

The game was end-to-end for most parts and both teams created chances but it was the Sharks clinical finishing and resolute defending that separated the teams. Like in Solway it was the warm-up that cost the Sting with new signing Tommo Jeffrey being injured by a loose puck and power forward Ben Lowe being unfit due to an ankle injury and these casualties left Coach Ian Johnson with a sense of unfinished business once again, he said "We have out-shot the Sharks in this game and just could not hit the net. Their goalie is top class and their D are tough guys too so we needed to be stronger in front of net and despite our best efforts we could not find a way through."

The Sting got off to a poor start with 2 quick goals which caught the Sting napping. From then-on the Sharks were in control and never looked like losing the game. But it was not all bad news for Sutton and Johnson knows that he has to pick-up his team for the next game against Hull Stingrays on 3rd December and he hopes to have JR to all upon as he prepares to regain 2nd spot in the league and secure the play-off spot as a minimum. JR was on the bench for the game and Johnson knows how influential he can be to his team.