Wild's tough start to the season continued with a visit to Queensferry
to meet the Deeside Dragons - league runners up last season. Former Wild player
Aled Roberts lined up for the Dragons with former Dragon, Matt Wainwright in
the yellow of Widnes. A noisy Widnes following led by horns and drums welcomed
the team.
In a lively opening, both teams found themselves shorthanded as
referees continue to clamp down on spoiling tactics. Both netminders were called
on to make close range saves with Nicole Jackson in the Widnes net making a
series of vital stops. The game came to life when, after continuous Dragons
pressure, Shaun Dipnall was sent clear down the ice and he slotted low under
the netminder for the opening goal. Despite a couple of 3 on 5 advantages, the visitors
couldn’t find a vital second goal. A Ben Brown breakaway at 16.35 almost opened
up the Dragons defence. As the period drew to a close measured passing in the
Deeside end saw Pavel Vales pass quickly to the edge of the crease and Lee
Pollitt to make it 2-0 to the Wild at 19.46.
The second period opened sensationally with Bobby Caunce feeding Filip
Supa to fire past George Cox to make it 3 -0. Within minutes the Dragons were
back in it a defensive error saw the home side on the scoreboard. The crowd
were on their feet when a late hit on Wild saw both sides exchanging punches.
It ended with two Widnes and four Deeside players in the penalty box.
Deeside scored a second at 25.46 a distance shot from Aled Roberts flying past
Jackson. It was 3 -3 at 28.14, Roberts again finding the net. Tom Jacksons
thunderous shot from the blue line at 32.29 came loose and Bobby Caunce
restored the Widnes lead. Two minutes later a big Kieron Strangeway shot was
fumbled. Filip Supa took control of the puck and fed Ben Brown to force the
puck home to give the visitors a 5-3 lead.
The final period opened with a disallowed Widnes goal but at 44.58,
pressure on the Widnes net saw Mike Jones force the puck home to bring the
score to 5-4. An incident on the boards in the
Widnes end saw Dragons stalwart Parsons sent from the game. A minute
later at 48.20 Filip Supa cut inside from the right to fire an accurate shot
into the top left corner to give the visitors a 6-4 lead. Within seconds
another wild effort was cleared off the Deeside line. In the 51st minute Shaun
Dipnall's cross ice pass was tipped in by Supa for a 7-4 Widnes lead. By this
stage the big Widnes fan contingent were roaring their favourites forward.
The last 5 minutes were pure torture for the visiting fans . A mix up
in defence saw Andy Chappell fire high to pull one back for the Dragons.
At 56.57 Paul Davies also went to the dressing room for misconduct. A
sixth Dragons goal at 58.20 brought the tensest finish possible but the Wild
held out to record a famous derby victory. Matt Wainwright, a former Dragon ,
took the MVP for Wild.
Next week the Coventry Blaze are the visitors to Widnes with an 18.15 Sunday face off. Last season's third placed team are sure to provide top opposition for the fast improving Wild.
Dick Gillingham
Photo: Filip Supa scored a hat-trick at Deeside. Photo by Geoff White - www.gw-images.co.uk
Photo: Filip Supa scored a hat-trick at Deeside. Photo by Geoff White - www.gw-images.co.uk
