Wild hit the top after win double
● DEESIDE DRAGONS ............................ 2 WIDNES WILD .................................... 22 HE RTL-sponsored Widnes Wild got 2018 off to a winning start with an emphatic away victory over a woefully under-strength Deeside Dragons development team, picking up a club record 22-2 win.
The Wild’s Shaun Dippnall opened the scoring after four minutes and the game was already effectively over by the 10th minute after strikes from Lee Kemp and head coach Ollie Barron put Widnes 3-0 ahead.
The Wild were in complete control, out-shooting the Dragons by an incredible 41-2 in the first period, and goals from Barron and Danny Bullock – back in a Widnes shirt after a long lay-off due to injury – Barron, Kyle Haslam and then Stuart Brittle handed the visitors an already unassailable 8-0 lead heading into the first break.
The goal fest continued in the second period, although Deeside had a lot more of the play, with the shotson-goal count coming out at a much more respectable 13 to 21.
However, of the 21 Widnes shots, 12 of them penetrated the shaky Dragons defences and goals from Dippnall, Barron (4), Haslam (2) Nick Manning, Mikey Gilbert, Gilbert (2) and Brittle brought the Wild tally to 20 by the end of the second period.
There was a little bit of something to cheer about for the Dragons fans as Sam Plant fired in an opening goal for
Tthe home side at 28.49.
Heading into the final period with the score at 20-1 in favour of the Wild, there was only going to be one result, but the question was – how high would the final score be? It could not be said that Widnes eased off in the last period although with a big home game against Altrincham Aces coming up the next day, you certainly could not blame them if they had – and they actually fired in an incredible 32 shots on the Dragons’ goal but the fact of the matter is that only two of them, from Danny Bullock after 41 minutes and Barron after 54, went in.
It says a lot that, despite being beaten by 22 shots, the Dragons netminder Charlie Perry – who was only playing recreational hockey before the start of the current season – actually stopped the other 72 shots that were fired at him and, because of the way that statistics are calculated, actually finished up with a better save percentage from the game than the Widnes netminders who only let in two goals between them.
The third period of the game was a big milestone moment for Widnes ice hockey as netminder Barry Sprakes came on to replace Matt Croyle in goal and played his first ever shift of league ice hockey.
Sprakes has been involved with the club since it started and played mainly for the Widnes Wildcats recreational team.
He is the first Widnes born and trained player to make a league appearance for his home club and he ● gave a very good account of himself, facing eight shots and letting just one in – in the 53rd minute – which was the only other Dragons goal in the game. WIDNES WILD ...................................... 7 ALTRINCHAM ACES ............................ 2 THE RTL-sponsored Widnes Wild stormed back to the top of the Laidler Division table with a sensational 7-2 victory over fellow title challengers Altrincham Aces at Silver Blades Widnes on Sunday.
The game was given extra zest after the Wild’s win at Deeside the night before – coupled with league leaders Hull Jets losing at Telford – which left the top three teams all on 30 points from 20 games. With Hull without a game on Sunday, it meant that the winner of the Wild versus Aces game would take over at the top of the league table, adding even more significance to what was already a highly-anticipated fixture.
The game was played at a furious pace throughout in front of a huge and vocal crowd and, after a very closely-contested start, the roof was nearly lifted off the rink when Stuart Brittle opened the scoring for the Wild after eight minutes. There followed a rather niggly phase with both sides picking up roughing penalties and then the Aces’ John Murray picked up a two-minute penalty for tripping followed by a match penalty for abuse of an official.
During the ensuing powerplay, Wild captain Simon Offord scored a priceless goal that sent Widnes into the first break with a 2-0 lead.
The second period saw the Aces looking much more controlled and dangerous and they out-shot the Wild by over two to one. However, despite only managing six shots on the Aces’ net all period, three of them went in and goals from Ollie Barron just one minute from the restart, Danny Bullock on 25 minutes and then a superb shorthanded goal from Barron on the halfway mark put Widnes 5-0 ahead with some 30 minutes left to play.
A powerplay goal from Altrincham’s Joe Greaves after 31 minutes gave the Aces some hope and then, with another strike from Greaves in the 38th minute, Altrincham looked to be back in the game.
They put the Widnes defence under immense pressure in the latter stages of the second period and the early part of the third but the Wild players rallied round and even successfully saw off a three-against-five situation as the Aces attack laid siege to Matt Croyle’s goal.
The pressure cooker atmosphere in the rink was relieved somewhat by a strike in the 52nd minute by Wild’s Mike Mawer and the Altrincham threat seemed to fade after that.
The final goal of the night was scored by head coach Barron in the 56th minute – his third of the night and 11th goal of the weekend – and the 7-2 victory meant that Widnes leapfrogged both Altrincham and Hull to go top of the Laidler Division.
The situation at the top of the league table is fascinating with the top five teams separated by just four points. The Wild are top with 32 points but they have played a game more than Hull who are in second with 30 and those two teams meet on Humberside this Sunday in what is a must-win for both.
The Aces drop to third with 30 points from 21 games but all of the top three teams could be overtaken by fourth place Sutton Sting if they were to win their games in hand.
Telford Tigers are in fifth place in the table with 28 points, having rallied of late but they have played more games than anyone else in the top five. ● The RTL sponsored Widnes Wild travel to Hull on Sunday to face the Jets in a 5.15pm face-off. They are next at home the following week – on Sunday, January 21 – when they entertain the Bradford Bulldogs at Silver Blades Widnes – 5.30pm face-off.
While the men’s side are away in Hull, the Widnes Wild women’s team are in action at home this Sunday when they entertain league leaders Chelmsford Cobras in the Women’s Premier League at Silver Blades Widnes.
The Cobras finished second in the league last season and have won all five of their league games this season so far, conceding only three goals in the process.
The Wild women are currently fifth in the WPL table and picked up their first win of the season with a 2-0 win at the Nottingham Vipers in midDecember.
The game faces-off at 5.30pm.