Sunday 26th January 2025 – WNIHL Div 2 N: Widnes Wild Women 5 – Telford Wrekin Raiders 4
Katie Fairclough was the Wild
Women’s MVP against Telford
(Photo by Paul Breeze)
The Widnes Wild women’s team moved back to the top of the Division 2 North table after a close-fought and highly entertaining 5-4 victory over erstwhile league leaders Telford Wrekin Raiders at Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday.
The division’s top two teams had played out a fascinating chess-match like 2-2 draw down in Shropshire two weeks earlier and this game was just as nerve-wracking and finely poised - and the result could easily have gone either way right until the final seconds.
Telford took the lead in the 7th minute and, despite Widnes out-shooting the visitors by more than 2 to 1, the score remained 0-1 at the first period break.
The continued Wild pressure was eventually rewarded in the 24th minute when Leen de Decker fired in a delayed penalty goal punishing a Telford holding call.
Telford edged ahead again just 90 seconds later but the Wild Women levelled once more three minutes after that with a goal from Lise Gillen. A further Raiders goal on 35 minutes put Telford noses back in front and the score stood at 2-3 at the second interval.
The third period saw Telford on top in terms of shots on goal and they scored a fourth goal 4 minutes in to open up a two-goal lead.
Ellen Tyrer pulled a goal back for Widnes two minutes later and this sparked a late fight back by the home side. De Decker fired home on a powerplay on 52 minutes to level the score once again and the Wild took the lead for the first time in the game with Gillen’s second goal of the night on 56 minutes.
The Wild women held on in the last few minutes to secure a 5-4 victory - which could be highly significant for the league title race. Having drawn the away game with Telford 2-2, this win means that, should the two teams finish level on points in the league table at the end of the season, Widnes would take the higher position based on results between the two teams.
The Wild Women travel to Sheffield this Sunday 2nd February for a cup game and are then at home to Telford in a cup game on Sunday 16th February at Planet Ice Widnes, 4.25pm face off.
