DOUBLE DELIGHT: Connor Medley scored two goals and an assist in Saturday’s 5-4 road win at Widnes WIld II. Picture: Jason Devanney/View FRom Up Here Photography.
BRADFORD BULLDOGS made it back-to-back wins over Widnes WIld 2 to move up to fourth in the NIHL North Two standings.
Two goals from Connor Medley, plus makers from captain Paul Lane, Josh Stockton and Chis Waites were enough to clinch all three points in regulation - just under a week from their 5-2 win at home over the same opponents - although there were some nervous moments late on after the hosts twice came back from two down to make it a one-goal game.
In the end, the Bulldogs came back along the M62 on the back of a 5-4 victory grateful in part to teenage netminder Lewis Curry who kept out a second period penalty shot from Widnes’ Luke Alston and picked up the visitors’ MVP award.
Player-coach Dave Williams was rightly pleased with a second straight win, but admitted the Bulldogs made it harder for themselves than they needed to.
“We got off to a great start in the first period to get ourselves 3-0 ahead, but we let them back into the game in the second, which was disappointing,” said Williams.
“We came good again in the first half of the third period but we gave them life when they came back to within one goal again.
“The good thing is that we were able to see the game out and pick up some valuable points against a very dogged opponent.
“It puts us in a decent spot in the table - although it is very early days - and a good position ahead of coming back home next Sunday to take on Kingston Sharks.”
The game was less than four minutes old when the Bulldogs broke the deadlock through Medley, the experienced centre doubling his tally in the 15th minute before Lane slotted home past Ollie Booth for a 3-0 lead at 17.39.
Widnes edged possession and chances in the second period and, after Curry had denied Luke Alston’s penalty shot in the 36th minute, he could do nothing to prevent Cody Ogden from reducing the deficit at 37.36.
The Wild were then awarded a second penalty shot in three minutes for an identical slashing call and Ogden was able to get the better of Curry to make it 3-2 at 38.41.
The Bulldogs needed to regain some breathing space and it arrived at 47.11 when Stockton struck on the power play.
The three-goal cushion was restored when Waites fired home just over three minutes later but Widnes again came back at the visitors, with Connor Bennett making it 5-3 at 52.53.
Alston made it a one-goal game at 57.46 but the Bulldogs were able to see out the game for the regulation win.
The Bulldogs are back at The Pound THIS SUNDAY (September 20 ) when they host reigning champions Sutton Sting.
Face-off is 5.30pm, with doors opening at 4.45pm. TICKET DETAILS (pay cash or card on the door): 🔴 Adults: £6 ⚫️ Under 5-16s, students and OAPs: £3; 🟡 Family ticket (2 adults, 2 U-16s): £14; ⚪️ Kids (Under-5): for a QUID!