RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE: Captain Paul Lane popped up to score the winner from close-range in overtime to secure a thrilling 5-4 win over Yorkshire rivals, Kingston Sharks. Picture: Jason Devanney/View From Up Here Photography
MIKE FORBES hopes Bradford Bulldogs have learned the dangers of switching off after they scrambled to an overtime victory at derby rivals Kingston Sharks.
With just under seven minutes remaining, the Bulldogs were seemingly cruising to three points when they were 4-0 ahead at Hull Ice Arena.
But the hosts had other ideas, launching a breathtaking comeback to score four goals in just under six minutes to take the game into overtime.
And after killing off a tripping call on Kacper Andrukianiec just two seconds before the end of regulation, the Bulldogs regained their composure to produce a response of their own when captain Paul Lane scored a dramatic winner at 62.28.
“It was not exactly the final result we wanted but it was an important result especially coming off the back of last weekend’s defeat at Altrincham,” said coach Forbes.
“We knew they would make it difficult for us on their own ice and credit to them, they pushed us all the way to the end.
“We played the best hockey we have so far this season for 55 minutes. The five-minute lapse at the end just shows that you can not afford to switch off against any team or you will be punished.
“It wasn’t always pretty and there are certainly things we need to continue to work on in training to help us find a way to play to deliver that level of performance for the full 60 minutes.”
The Bulldogs had got off to the perfect start when Josh Stockton pounced on a rebound from Connor Medley’s initial shot to fire home into the gaping net from eight yards out with just 3.41 on the board.
It wasn’t until deep into the second period that the Bulldogs doubled their lead, making a power play opportunity count when Kieron Furlong worked space for himself down low before beating Adamson at his near post at 34.17.
“We played the best hockey we have so far this season for 55 minutes. The five-minute lapse at the end just shows that you can not afford to switch off against any team or you will be punished.”
It was another power play that saw the Bulldogs stretch their lead in the 45th minute, an interference call on Braden Jennings only 18 seconds old when Medley finished off a swift breakout involving Stockton and Declan Kime.
A little over five minutes later it was 4-0, a face-off win in the Sharks’ zone finding its way to Chris Waites who fired past Adamson.
The Sharks gave themselves hope when Lewis Rogers tipped in past Sam Bolwell at 53.24, but there was no hint of the drama to come.
Shortly after Bulldogs’ Jacob Brownlie and Kingston’s Liam Archer were sent to the box on a five-minute fighting major, the lead was cut to two when Joe Anson pounced on a loose rebound in front of net.
Just under two minutes later it was a one-goal game when Adam Jasecko fired through a crowd before, with just 58 seconds remaining, the Sharks completed a remarkable comeback.
Stanley Beaumont broke down the middle creating a 3-on-2 and fed the on-rushing Rogers to his right, from where he beat Bolwell at her near post from a tight angle to send the home bench delirious.
With almost two minutes of a 4-on-3 at the start of overtime, the Sharks looked favourites to take the extra point on offer, but the Bulldogs killed the penalty and quickly found a way to get over the line when Lane pounced on a rebound from Adamson off Waites’ initial shot to seal a fourth league win of the season.