Bulldogs find it tough going on the road in Billingham

CONSOLATION: Jared Knowles provided some third period respite for the Bulldogs in Billingham with his third period strike. Picture: Jason Devanney/View From Up Here

BRADFORD BULLDOGS found it tough going on their first of two visits to Billingham Buccaneers, coming off on the wrong end of a 9-1 scoreline. 

Injuries continue to hamper the team’s chances of driving up the NIHL North Two standings and it was no different in Billingham, with Porter Harrop, Aidan Lamb and Alfie Gilhooley all making their debuts, after signing on two-way deals from Widnes Wild on Friday. 

Former Bulldogs junior goalie Jacob Midgley made his return to the club for a senior debut, backing up Jake Lowndes, who was back from a four-week injury lay-off. 

Third-placed Billingham showed why they are among the front-runners this season with a dominant first period, one which left them 6-0 ahead at the break. 

Christopher Lutz broke the deadlock with just 3.41 on the board with Stephen Wallace and Sam Dowd also finding the net to make it 3-0 to the hosts inside 15 minutes. 

Two strikes within 19 seconds of each other - the first from Wallace at 17.12, the other from Dowd - increased the agony for the Bulldogs, with Ashley Lavery beating Lowndes at 19.08. 

There was little respite in the second, Joshua Nertney making it 7-0 at 26.12 before Artem Pavlov’s power play strike followed 64 seconds later, a goal which prompted a change in net for the Bulldogs with Midgley replacing Lowndes.

With 19 seconds of the period remaining, Wallace completed his hat-trick when beating Midgley. 

The third period produced a more even affair, with the hosts already assured of the points and the Bulldogs were rewarded for their efforts when Jared Knowles fired home at 52.52. 

At the other end, Midgley stood tall for the remainder of the game, turning away 31 of the 32 shots on his goal to earn the Bulldogs’ MVP award.