The
game got off to a predictable start with both sides attacking at a furious pace
and Deeside taking a 4th minute lead, when Andrew Chappell fired home from
close range. The lead was short lived and flying forward Ben Brown equalised in
the 8th minute, after good work from Supa and Caunce. The rest of the period
saw an end to end, cut and thrust contest.
It was
in the second period where Widnes started to control the game pattern, with
some highly effective counter attacks which took the visitors by surprise.
Filip Supa soon returned to scoring form with a wrist shot past George Cox just
twelve seconds into the period. Bobby Caunce and Shaun Dipnall were the architects
of a superb goal. The goal fired Deeside into action, with an aggressive brand
of hockey. Whilst Chris Jones was serving a roughing penalty, Wild went further
ahead, when Caunce finished from a Shaun Dipnall pass. Greg Ruxton in the Wild
goal came under great pressure but along with young defenceman Tom Jackson,
Josh Grocutt and Dan Bracegirdle they faced up to a fierce physical challenge.
The
final period saw a further, rather bizarre goal in the 49th minute, the puck
trickling inches over the line past a bemused George Cox after a Shaun Dippnall
shot. This appeared to prompt a netminder change with Matt Compton replacing
Cox, the big netminder having just served a ten minute misconduct penalty. His
experience couldn't prevent a further Widnes goal. Bobby Caunce beat him inside
the left hand post in the 54th minute, Filip Supa being the provider.
At 5- 1
up and just six minutes to go it seemed like job done. However, a boarding
incident behind the Widnes net saw Jackson, Tom Ratcliffe and Ken Armstrong all
serving penalties. Within seconds, Dragons had scored through Simon Furnival,
and he followed up two minutes later with a second to bring the Dragons within
two goals. Inside a minute James Parsons had made it 5-4 and it was the
Dragons' fans on their feet. In a torrid last 2 minutes, Widnes held out to
record a memorable win.
This
was a game which kept the crowd on edge until the end, second placed Dragons
outshooting the home side two to one.
Wild
coach Mark Gillingham was delighted with his side's efforts. "It
was obviously a big win for us, especially coming on the back of two
disappointing results a fortnight ago. Deeside play in quite a specific way, so
we set a game plan and stuck to it for the most part. We congested the middle
of the ice, which stopped them playing the long passes they like to make, and
until the last goal they only scored with the man advantage. Even with the plan
in place, though, it was the effort that each of the players put in that meant
we could get the result, and it was a well earned victory."
Wild
are at home again next Sunday, when newly-crowned league champions Solihull
Barons provide the opposition. Doors open at 5.15 for a 6.15 face off.
* Wild
will be supporting a community initiative at Tesco Widnes on Saturday 29th
March . There will be a chance to meet some of the players and try your hand at
some hockey skills between 9.30 and 17.00. There will be a raffle for a signed
shirt, stick and season ticket with funds raised in aid of When You Wish Upon A
Star.
Dick Gillingham
Photo: Widnes Wild's Filip Supa by Geoff White - www.gw-images.co.uk
