The YKK Widnes Wild were back to winning ways on Sunday night, travelling north to face the Blackburn hawks, and leaving with a 3-5 victory. Widnes travelled with 17+2, including Conner McNulty and Torran Anderson who had played for Kilmarnock Thunder against Blackburn the previous night, but were missing Innes Gallacher + Gregor Donaldson from the lineup. Netminder Luca Tessadri also returned between the pipes for the Wild, backed up by Widnes u18s keeper Gabe Lingard following Pearson’s injury last weekend.
Widnes quickly dominated the game from the initial face-off and put several shots on Thomasson in the opening minutes. The Wild were given a man advantage at 4:18 after #28 James Riddoch was caught for slashing. #5 Conner McNulty was the one to capitalise for the Wild with a top corner shot at 5:06 to score his first for Widnes and put them ahead. #19 Calum Ruddick found himself in the box shortly after the goal at 5:14 for delay of the game, putting the hawks on their first PP of the night. A solid defensive unit shut down every chance for the Hawks and Widnes returned to full strength with their lead still intact.
The Wild soon doubled their lead at 9:05, this time through #16 Mikey Gilbert who tapped the puck through Thomasson’s 5-hole after a pass from #17 Andrew Hopkins, leaving the score at 0-2. Both sides continued to put pressure on the netminders but they handled it well. Blackburn were given the biggest opportunity so far towards the end of the first. #20 Bez Hughes received a hooking penalty at 17:41 and #Will Harper was given 2min hooking + 2min roughing at 18:18, leaving the hawks with a 5on3 advantage. However, it was Widnes who added to the scoreboard at 18:54 with a short-handed first goal by #21 Torran Anderson on the breakaway to end the first with a healthy 0-3 lead to the Wild.
Teams returned onto the ice for the 2nd period, with Widnes having to complete the remaining 2:19 on Harper’s penalty. However, Blackburn shortly fired their first past Luca Tessadri at 21:39 from #28 Riddoch, assisted by #10 Crawley and #80 Streetly. The game then slowed slightly after the hawks clawed one back as both sides continued to push for offence. Blackburn’s #66 Jimmy Royds reduced his team’s deficit to 1 with a pass from #88 Adam Barnes at 30:13.
The Wild’s #11 Harper was given another roughing penalty at 33:40 which gave Blackburn the ideal chance to draw level. Another successful PK unit for Widnes prevented the Hawks forwards scoring. There was then a break in play after Widnes’ #39 Matty Barlow took a skate to the face and he left the ice at 36:50. Blackburn’s Bobby Streetly was made to sit a delaying the game penalty at 39:19, but Widnes failed to make it count ending the second with a close 2-3 scoreline.
Both sides returned for the final frame, including Matt Barlow who put the 4th on the board for Widnes, flicking it top corner on the backhand over Thomasson’s shoulder at 45:06 on the breakaway. Solid defence units from the Hawks and the Wild left much of the 3rd to be played with little pressure put on the netminders.
However, the tensions rose in the final 10 minutes after #10 Crawley put Blackburn within 1, assisted by #20 Lutwyche + #88 Barnes. Widnes then quickly responded with a snipe from #11 Harper to leave the score at 3-5. Blackburn Hawks pulled Thomasson at 59:16 in a final attempt, but Luca kept the Hawks at bay, ending the game 3-5.
MVPs were awarded to Blackburn’s defence-man #77 Ben McLellan and Widnes’ #35 Luca Tessadri after a superb performance between the pipes.
The YKK Widnes Wild now have a double road-trip weekend, facing the Solihull Barons on Saturday 28th October for a 7pm face-off, and then travel back north to face the Whitley Warriors at Hillheads for a 5pm face-off on Sunday 29th October.
Officials: Carratt, MacKinnon, Horner
STATS-
Widnes Wild: Conner McNulty 1+0, Torran Anderson 1+0, Mikey Gilbert 1+0, Matty Barlow 1+0, Will Harper 1+0, Andrew Hopkins 0+1
Blackburn Hawks: Josh Crawley 1+1, James Riddoch 1+0, Jimmy Royds 1+0, Adam Barnes 0+2, Bobby Streetly 0+1, Jacob Lutwyche 0+1
Article written by Fleur Tobin