Bulldogs and Blaze battle it out in seven-goal thriller

DISAGREEMENT: Bulldogs and Coventry players come to blows during Sunday’s NIHL North Two showdown at The Pound. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS produced a brilliant third-period comeback before being edged out in overtime by visitors Coventry Blaze NIHL in a seven-goal thriller at The Pound. 

It was a deserved point for the Bulldogs who proved more than a match for fourth-placed Blaze on a night when the club raised £700 for local girl Chanelle Snowden, who was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia earlier this year.

The 4-3 defeat leaves the Bulldogs in NIHL North Two’s eighth and final play-off spot, a point behind Deeside Dragons and four back from sixth-placed Altrincham Aces who they visit this Sunday. 

It was the Bulldogs who went in ahead at the first intermission, but only after they had to deal with the loss of goaltender Jake Lowndes, who was forced off injured after 17 minutes. 

It looked like the teams would go in all-square after a keenly-contested first 20, until Josh Stockton broke clear down the middle and rounded Hayden Laverick and produced a trademark finish with just 11 seconds of the period remaining. 

THE GREAT LEVELLER: Player-coach Dave Williams celebrates after equalising for the Bulldogs against Coventry at The Pound on Sunday. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

Second period issues have hurt the Bulldogs in recent weeks and came to the fore again when Coventry seized control with three unanswered goals. 

Sam Prosser levelled at 24.19 before Nick Alley put the Blaze ahead five minutes later and then doubled his tally and the lead when he beat Jack Mickevicius from close range in the 37th minute. 

But the Bulldogs rallied in the third and got themselves back in the running with a second from Stockton at 45.43. 

They got their rewards just under four minutes later when player-coach Davie Williams forced the puck home from close range to bring his team level. 

Chances came and went at both ends but no further breakthrough was found until early into 3-on-3 overtime, Blaze’s Harrison Sumner breaking clear down the middle and beating Mickevicius with just 26 seconds gone to grab the extra point. 

Connor Medley picked up the Bulldogs’ MVP award, with Daniel Retter chosen for the Blaze.

The Bulldogs are back in action this weekend when they hit the road to take on Altrincham Aces for the first time this season on Sunday, November 9 - face-off 6.10pm. 

Our next NIHL North home game is on Sunday, November 23 against Kingston Sharks (face-off, 5.30pm).