Match Report: Deeside D2 Dragons 6 – Bradford Bulldogs 10 (NIHL Laidler Division)

Charlie Spridgeon was the Dragons' MVP against Bradford (Photo by Lewis Cleveland)

Sunday 16^th November 2025 – NIHL Laidler Division: Deeside D2 Dragons 6 – Bradford Bulldogs 10

The Deeside D2 Dragons Laidler Division team had a mixed weekend with two back to back home games, beating Altrincham Aces 10-6 on Saturday and losing to Bradford Bulldogs by the same score on Sunday at Deeside Leisure Centre.

Following Saturdya's win over Altrincham, the game against Bradford on Sunday was another highly entertaining affair and very close, until the latter stages.

James Shaw got the Dragons off to a dream start with a goal after just 45 seconds but the Bulldogs then scored two quick goals to get their snouts in front.

A Cameron Kushnirenko strike on 6 minutes levelled the scores again but Bradford hit back to lead 2-3 at the first break.

Two goals each in the second period – the Deeside markers coming from Shaw, again, and Stewart Cutting - left the game on a knife edge at 4-5 with everything still to play for in the final 20 minutes.

Unfortunately, the Dragons got into penalty trouble early in the third period and three straight powerplay goals gave Bradford what would turn out to be a match winning lead.

Deeside pulled two goals back – from Noah Percival and Dan Fadejevs - but were unable to make the most of powerplay chances of their own and two shorthanded goals in the last 10 minutes for the Bulldogs gave the final score a more one-sided look than the game necessarily deserved.

Despite Sunday’s defeat, the weekend results see the D2 Dragons in the lofty position of 5th in the 9-team Laidler Division table – the highest position they have ever occupied. 

They now have 12 points from 11 games and, even with less than half of the season having been played, they already have more points than their previous incarnation - the Deeside Ducks - achieved in the whole of last season

The D2 Dragons are at home again this Sunday 23^rd November when they take on second place team and regular title challengers Sutton Sting at Deeside Leisure Centre, 5.15pm face off.