Double-header sees men beat Bulldogs
However, the Wild Women’s next two games are at home to Telford and then away to Solway, so
March will be a crucial month for
BRADFORD BULLDOGS ......................... 4 YKKWIDNESWILD ................................. 5
both teams having chances.
The deadlock was broken in the 52nd minute when Matt Tarpey edged the Wild back into the lead. Mikey Gilbert made it a two goal cushion with just two and a half minutes left on the clock but a goal on 58 minutes for the hosts still left everything to play for.
Bradford withdrew their netminder for the last minute in favour of an extra attacking player.
The Wild defence held out against this last-ditch onslaught and the game finished with a 5-4 Wids win.
The home game on Sunday started in similar vein and, despite lots of two-way hockey and chances for both teams, remained goal-less at the first period break.
Bradford led just 44 seconds into them.
The Wild Women go into Sunday’s game on the back of a five-match winning run and will be the second period and, when they doubled their advantage with a short-handed goal in the 30th minute, it was beginning to look as if it was going to be their night.
However, a power play goal from team captain Danny Bullock just 40 seconds later opened the Wild’s account and then a superb individual goal from Jakub Hajek, on 34 minutes, levelled it. With Bradford on the ropes and outshot by some two to one in the period, Widnes were able to make that dominance count with a 38 minute goal from Daniel Haid to turn the 0–2 deficit into a 3–2 lead at the second break.
The third period started with a goal from Bez Hughes to edge Widnes further ahead and, as the game began to slip away from the keen to put on a good show in front of their home fans.
The match on Sunday faces off at 5.30pm and doors open at 5pm.
Bradford side, things got niggly.
Hughes scored his second goal and the fifth overall for the Wild to hand them an unassailable lead with just over two minutes left to play. Unnecessary penalties saw the Bulldogs play out the latter stages of the game with six players either in the penalty box or in the changing room and the Wild held out to secure the win – and to notch up a very important four point weekend.
After two game-free weekends, Wild player Shaun Dippnall finally received with his Award for having been named Laidler Division Player of the Month for January.
Wild visit Blackburn Hawks 2 on Saturday, 5.45pm face off – and on Sunday go to leaders Hull Jets, 5.15pm face off.