Leaders redress balance with victory at Wild
THE YKK sponsored Widnes Wild’s recent impressive run of results against the Solway Sharks came to an end with a 2-5 defeat at the hand of the Scottish team at Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday.
Having not lost in normal time to the league leaders in their last threemeetings, there were hopes that a home win for the Wild would provide a spark for a move up the Moralee Division table but it was not to be.
The game was played at a furious pace throughout and Widnes actually took the lead in the 3rd minute with a powerplay goal from Matty Barlow.
Solway equalised 4 minutes later and despite numerous chances for both teams, the score remained 1-1 at the first break.
The game remained deadlocked for much of the second period – with Solway having more shots on goal but Widnes defending and counter attacking well. The next breakthrough came in the 36th minute and it fell to the home side as Joe Greaves edged the Wild back in front.
However, Solway levelled again just 12 seconds later and the score remained 2-2 after two periods of play.
The Sharks took the lead for the first time in the game with a goal on 42 minutes and the Wild suffered a further setback following an unsavoury incident in the 49th minute.
Joe Greaves made an overly heavy challenge on a Solway player and was handed a 2 minute penalty for cross checking, 2+5 minutes for fighting plus an early shower for being the aggressor.
This, unfortunately, left Widnes having to play the next 9 minutes against the league leaders a man short.
In all fairness, they weathered the storm fairly well, going 2-4 down to a powerplay goal on 51 minutes but otherwise seeing off the rest of the penalty without conceding.
However all of this time that they were defending, they weren’t able to do very much attacking so the Sharks were able to soak up the pressure and save their energy.
A five minute spell back on equal terms at the end was not enough for the Wild to claw themselves back into the game and while they were pushing forward in search of a goal, they were caught out at the back and Solway scored their fifth of the night with just 22 seconds left on the clock.
The win for Solway sees them pull four points ahead of second place Whitley Warriors at the top of the Moralee Division table.
Solihull Barons are third after a win away to Billingham Stars with 18 points and Widnes and Sheffield are next both on 16 points, although the Wild have games in hand over the Scimitars and the top two.
The Wild are next in action this Sunday 6th February when they travel away to face Nottingham Lions – 5pm face off.
They are then at home the Sunday after, 13th
February, when they take on Solihull Barons at Planet Ice Widnes, 5.30pm face off.
The Widnes Wild Ladies team are at home to Chelmsford Cobras on Sunday 6th February at Planet Ice Widnes, 4.15pn face off.