Youngsters defeated despite top effort

NOTTINGHAM U18 ............................................... 9 WILD ACADEMY U18 ........................................... 6 score was tied at 4–4 and, in contrast, the second period, while full of flowing end-toend hockey and plenty of shots, only elicited two goals.

Nottingham edged back into the lead on 29 minutes but Widnes equalised once again with Sam Anderson’s hat-trick goal with just two minutes left in the period. With the score standing at 5–5 after 40 minutes of play, there was still plenty to look forward to in the third period.

Sam Anderson edged the Wild ahead once again, with his fourth goal of the match just 41 seconds into the third period. However, Nottingham drew level once more 16 seconds later. The hosts edged ahead with a power play goal on 46 minutes and then extended their lead five minutes later.

Unfortunately, any hopes of a Wild fight back were quashed as the game was running late and had to finish before the regulation 60 minutes had been completed. A ninth goal for the hosts on 52 minutes rounded off the scoring for the evening and, despite having played superbly throughout, the Wild found themselves on the wrong end of a 9–6 scoreline.

Despite being heavily out-shot throughout the game – by 55 – 18 - The Wild defence and netminder Jake Lowndes put in a superb performance, which demonstrates that this newly- formed Widnes Under 18s Team is making progress with every game they play.

The Wild Under 18s sit bottom of the league table with 1 point from their six games to date but captain Sam Anderson is top of the scoring standings with 13 goals and four assists from five games.

The Wild Under 18s Team are at home this Saturday October 26, when they take on the Sheffield Steel City Under 18s at Planet Ice Widnes, 7.45pm face off.

The Wild Academy Under 11s team are also in action on Saturday, playing their first home game of the season at Planet Ice at home to Bradford Under 11s. That game faces off at 6.15pm and admission to both Academy matches is free.