Bulldogs feel the Sting down on tough day at Ice Sheffield

TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE: The Bulldogs found it tough going at Ice Sheffield against Sutton Sting.

IT proved a tough evening down at Ice Sheffield for Bradford Bulldogs as they were on the receiving end of a 15-3 defeat at the hands of NIHL North Two title favourites, Sutton Sting. 

With Telford Tigers 2 having moved up a level, the Sting are among many peoples favourites to inherit their regular season crown. 

After losing their opening game 8-4 at Billingham Buccaneers - another title candidate - they will have been desperate for a positive response and it was the Bulldogs who were on the receiving end of it. 

While the first period saw just the one goal between the two teams, the Sting were good value for their lead having outshot the Bulldogs 21-6. 

It was in the early part of the second where the game swung drastically in the home team’s favour and from which the visitors never recovered. 

With only Adam Brooke-Smith’s 13th minute strike on the board, the Bulldogs came out for the second very much still in the game. 

But two Joe Colton goals in the space of 15 seconds in the first minute - the first a penalty shot - put the visitors’ on their heels. 

Colton completed his hat-trick three minutes later at 23.49 and there were three more goals to come before the end of the second through Morgan Glasby, Josh Humphreys and Cameron Russell. 

The start to the third emulated the second period when the Bulldogs shipped three goals early on inside the first four minutes. 

Morgan Glasby doubled his tally before Lawson Glasby and Cameron Akers also got on the board to extend the lead to 10-0. 

The Bulldogs kept going, though, and got their reward with a 47th-minute power play strike from Connor Medley.

Lawson Glasby responded with a second for himself at 50.23 to make it 11-1 before the Bulldogs hit back twice within 17 seconds, first through Aaron Jordan and then again when debutant Chris Hogarth beat Jack Hargreaves. 

But the Sting were to have the last say, with Jacob Truswell, Charlie Saunders and Matt Jeffcock all getting on the board. 

This weekend, the Bulldogs have two opportunities to bounce back, first on the road at Kingston Sharks (Saturday, 5.30pm) before returning to home ice at The Pound on Sunday to host Sheffield Titans (face-off 5.30pm). 

You can pay on the door at Bradford Ice Arena with ticket prices as follows: Adults £6, Concessions (Oaps and Under-16s) £3, Family Ticket £14 (two adults, two U-16s) and Under-5s £1.