Poor start proves costly as Buccaneers stage raid on Bulldogs
UNDER PRESSURE: Bradford’s D try to keep out a Billingham ar=ttack on Sunday. Picture: George Fewster/Huddersfield Photo Imaging Club
WITH more or less a full line-up for the first time in weeks, Bradford Bulldogs went into their NIHL North Two clash at home to Billingham Buccaneers in confident mood.
But within eight minutes they had given themselves a mountain to climb with Billingham racing into a 3-0 lead.
Going into the first break 4-1 to the good, the visitors turned the screw further in the second period to get themselves 10-2 ahead after 40 minutes.
The Bulldogs came out much stronger in the third period, which failed to yield any further goals at either end.
DOWN BUT NOT OUT: A Billingham player takes a tumble in front of the Bulldogs goal. Picture: Robewrt Wateworth/Huddersfield Photo Imaging Club
The result sees the Bulldogs remain in the eighth and final play-off spot with seven games remaining and six points ahead of Nottingham Lions 2, who have two games in hand.
The two teams meet for a third and final time in 2025-26 at The Pound on Sunday, February 1.
It took just 68 seconds for the Buccaneers to break the deadlock when Stephen Wallace burst into the Bulldogs one and rifled a fierce shot past Jack Mickevicius from the top of the left circle.
The lively Thomas Fraser then struck twice in as many minutes before the Bulldogs hit back when Ben Darbyshire’s speculative back-hand throw at the net eluded Billingham goalie Ronald Pierce and over the line at 8.18.
But the three-goal lead was restored less than two minutes later when Kiean Wrench fired home.
It got better for the visitors when Leighton Wilkinson scored his first senior goal to make it 5-1 at 22.02, the lead increased further through Stuart Jackson just over a minute later.
THE RACE IS ON: Bulldogs’ Tyler Hall in action against Billingham on Sunday. Picture: George Fewster/Huddersfield Photo Imaging Club
Jared Knowles made a power play opportunity come off when he found Pierce’s top right-hand corner at 28.32, offering hope to the hosts, but Thomas Cummings had other ideas when he restored the five-goal cushion at 29.04.
Five minutes later, Lewis Hall made it 8-2 Sam Dowd got his reward for a lively display when he beat Mickevicius at 36.57.
Fraser then topped off a memorable night when he sealed his hat-trick at 37.29.
The Bulldogs rallied in the third and Jake Lowndes came in for Mickevicius - but they couldn’t make any further dent into Billingham’s lead who were good value for their convincing win.