Bulldogs suffer more overtime misery as Buccaneers stage late raid
DOUBLE HIT: Lucas Vince scored two goals in the 6-overtime defeat at Billingham Buccaneers. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.
DAVE WILLIAMS praised the hard work and commitment of Bradford Bulldogs side after they suffered overtime disappointment yet again in NIHL North Two.
Two weeks on from going down 9-1 at Billingham Buccaneers, the Bulldogs headed to the Forum again, this time pushing their third-placed hosts all the way.
Five times the Bulldogs have gone to either overtime or a shootout. Five times they have come off second best.
With 150 seconds left in the game, the Bulldogs looked set for two deserved points, having staged a brilliant third period comeback to lead 5-3.
Just over two minutes later they found themselves going to overtime before, just 65 seconds in, Stuart Jackson ripped one over Jack Mickevicius’ left shoulder and into the roof of the net, securing what seemed just a few moments earlier an unlikely win for the home side.
ON TARGET: Aaron Jordan made it 5-3 to Bradford at Billingham with just under five minutes remaining. Picture: Adam Lee.
While there was despair in the Bulldogs’ line-up, the game brought encouraging signs heading into the turn of the year as they look to finish as high up the standings as possible.
“It was a great performance from the team and I couldn’t be prouder of every player,” said Bulldogs’ player-coach Williams. “We battled hard from the first minute and showed Billingham that the game would be very different to the one from two weeks earlier.
“We earned that point through hard work, discipline and a real commitment to each other throughout the game.
“I’m just really disappointed that we couldn’t hang on to see the game through to the end. However, you have to take the positives from our performance.
“We matched Billingham for shots on goal overall and were dominant for large parts of the game. If we put in performances like that every game, there is no reason we can’t beat any team in this league.
“We are still struggling with injuries & illness but will hopefully see some players return to the line-up when we visit Nottingham on January 4.”
After a goalless first period, the game exploded into life in the second with a goal at each end, Billingham taking the lead through Daniel Caple at 22.04 before Lucas Vince equalised just over two minutes later.
Stephen Wallace and Kieran Wrench got the hosts out in front again towards the end of the second period, but the Bulldogs stayed close going into the second break when Rocco Mallon made it a one-goal game at 39.35.
Just 21 seconds into the third period, the visitors were level, Vince bagging his second of the night, before Ste Cox got the Bulldogs ahead for the first time in the game when he made it 4-3 in the 49th minute.
A power play opportunity which arrived with just under six minutes remaining gave the Bulldogs a chance to extend their lead and it was one they took when Aaron Jordan beat Chris Outhwaite to make it 5-3 at 55.03.
But hope arrived for the hosts in the shape of Sam Dowd who made it 5-4 at 57.30 before, with just 21 seconds of regulation left, he beat Mickevicius for a second time to tie the game, enabling Wallace to achieve hero status just over a minute into overtime.