Bulldogs’ play-off bid goes down to the wire in Deeside

TAKE THAT: Bulldogs’ Ben Fox delivers a hit on KIngston’s McKenzie Barkr during Sunday’s NIHL North Two derby - the visitors winning -4 in overtime. Picture: Jason Devanny/View From Up Here.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS ensured their battle to reach the NIHL North Two play-offs will go down to the final game of the regular season after taking a valuable point at home to Kingston Sharks. 

The Bulldogs fought back from 4-2 down at The Pound last Sunday, but succumbed in overtime to lose out 5-4. 

The point earned drew them level on points with Nottingham Lions 2 meaning a point or more from their trip to Deeside Dragons 2 this Sunday will take them through to a two-legged play-off quarter-final against recently-crowned regular season North Two champions, Sutton Sting.

In what was a keenly-contested Yorkshire derby throughout, it was the Bulldogs who took the lead in the 12th minute when Paul Lane fired in his eighth goal of the campaign. 

BACK OF THE NET: Bulldogs’ Tyler Hall (third left) celebrates his second period equaliser against Kingston at The Pound on Sunday. Picture: Jason Devanney/View From Up Here.

The Sharks levelled through Ethan Daintith three minutes later and that was how the game remained until the second period when the Sharks - already assured of a play-off tie against regular season runners-up Sheffield Titans - began to exert control. 

With just 51 seconds of the second period gone, Daintith doubled his tally for the night but at 26.30 Tyler Hall picked the perfect moment to come up with his first goal of the season to make it 2-2. 

The Sharks’ response was immediate, though, Harry Clegg making it 3-2 with just 26 more seconds having elapsed, the visitors’ then doubling their lead just under two minutes later through Lewis Rogers. 

THE GREAT LEVELLER: Josh Guy scored the third period equaliser for the Bulldogs against Kingston on Sunday - taking the game into overtime. Picture: Abigail James.

That is how it remained as the game went into the final 10 minutes, with hope arriving for the hosts when top goalscorer Josh Stockton made it a one-goal game with his 21st of the season at 52.16. 

Three minutes later, a second power play opportunity of the night presented itself to the Bulldogs and it was one they took advantage of when defenceman Josh Guy fired home to make it 4-4 at 55.32. 

With a point in the bag, the Bulldogs went into overtime looking for the extra point which would have guaranteed them a play-off spot. 

But, just 30 seconds in, former Bulldogs’ junior McKenzie Barker made sure it was the visitors who prevailed when he made it 5-4.