Wild saved their most
disappointing performance of 2014 for their greatest travelling support , on
Saturday night. Around half the sparse crowd were supporting the Wild. After
Chris Preston broke clear in the 3rd minute only to see his shot saved , Senators
opened the scoring in the 6th minute. Sheffield hit hard on the break and were
three goals ahead inside fourteen minutes. Only a series of brilliant saves
from Wild netminder Steve Gilmartin kept Senators at bay.
Bobby Caunce scored the
goal of the game for Widnes at 28.30. He was sent clear from his own blue line
by Ratcliffe and Evans, fending off
chasing defenders to slot in by the left hand post.
A third period goal from
Shaun Dipnall at 48.35 was Wilds only other score. He took a long pass out of defence
to skate on to fire a low shot past Robert Browne.
In an error strewn game,
Wild never reached the heights of recent weeks. The team lacked energy and
indecision in defence led to several avoidable goals. Netminder Steve Gilmartin
deservedly took the MVP for the visitors - several remarkable saves being
highlights of a lacklustre performance.
Widnes
Wild 2 Coventry Blaze 6
This was a much improved
performance from Widnes. The only line up change was Geoff Wigglesworth for
unavailable Dan Bracegirdle. Coventry, making their first visit to
Silverblades, were shortbenched but featured a strong skating line up.
The game started at a
furious pace with end to end action. However it was Coventry who took a fifth
minute lead - Josh Nicklin scoring with an angled shot from the right of the
net. Sustained pressure from the Wild kept Blaze netminder, Connor Ranby, busy. Frantic action round the Coventry net
was matched by some resolute defending. The speedy Coventry forwards broke
clear in the 14th minute for German captain Philip Pollock to add a second
goal. Widnes reacted strongly but just two minutes later controversy entered
the game.
Geoff Wigglesworth attempted to take possession in the corner when
challenged by big Blaze defenceman Thomas Pease. Wigglesworth fell to the ice
and eventually got to his feet with facial cuts. A high sticking call saw Pease
ejected from the game and an early interval to enable the ice to be cleaned. As
the game resumed, sustained pressure from the home side, should have seen a
Widnes opening goal. Several excellent saves from Ranby and a desperate poke
check kept them scoreless. Controversially the puck entered the Blaze net but
was ruled out by referee, Blaine Evans.
After the teams changed
ends, the tense contest continued ,Widnes eventually getting on the scoreboard.
Young defenceman Tom Jackson firing home from an acute angle. Minutes earlier
Callum Ruddick's long range effort was ruled out for offside.As on the previous
evening Steve Gilmartin's agility kept out a number of Coventry shots.
The third period opened
with further Wild pressure and a fine snap shot from Wigglesworth narrowly
missed the top corner of the net. Eventually an equaliser came in the 46th
minute - the puck finding Shaun Dipnall in front of the net and the forward
shooting insine Ranby's right hand post. The goal lifted another big Widnes
crowd and a home win looked a distinct possibility. Both teams battled for
ascendancy but it was the visitors who got the vital third in the 51st minute.
A great break up the ice saw Louis Brindle fire high into the net.
As the home side battled
for the equaliser and with both teams tiring , Charlie Hamilton got the vital
fourth for the Blaze- a high shot from the blue line beating Steve Gilmartin.
Following an altercation at the Widnes end big Tony Melbourne was dismissed for
striking an opponent in the 56th minute. Blaze took advantage of the extra man
to add two further goals to give the score a one sided look.
This was a much improved
show against third placed Blaze. The big crowd appreciated a strong team effort
from Wild. They are at home again on Sunday 16th March ( 18.45) when local
rivals Deeside Dragons are the opponents.
The Wild annual
Presentation Night takes place in April at the Ford Social Club. Fans will be
welcome to attend, have supper and meet the players. Full details and tickets
are available on match nights.
Reports
by Richard Gillingham
Photos
by Geoff White – www.gw-images.co.uk 