The YKK Widnes Wild picked up a point after their away trip to Deeside Dragons ended, following #86 Jake Witkowski’s overtime winner, which sealed the win for the home side.
1st Period: 1-0
The Deeside Dragons started the first period with clear intentions to cause the Wild defence issues as forward #86 Jake Witkowski broke away and took his first shot of the game just before the 30-second mark.
Widnes Wild weren’t going to make the game easy for the home side, however, having their first shot on goal at 4:10.
The home team maintained their pressure on the Wild goal, but it was the visitors who would get the first real clear-cut chance of the game at 4:47 when #7 Alex Parry picked up the puck and sent a well-timed cross to #4 Nathan Bennett, whose shot was scrambled away from the goal mouth by Dragon’s defenders.
The opening goal of the game went to the home side, coming at 11:15. #86 Jake Witkowski finding the back of the net, assisted by #14 Colin Cromie and #33 MJ Clancy.
Deeside Dragons also earned the first penalty of the game, when #39 Matty Barlow headed to the box for two minutes for slashing, and was joined by #13 Matt Wainwright, who sat for two minutes for delaying the game at 14:15.
Wild then received their own penalty at 15:24, when #17 Andrew Hopkins received two minutes for cross-checking.
Despite the Deeside Dragons being the stronger team in the first period, the Widnes Wild were able to create some decent chances, a positive as they headed into the first break trailing the home team.
2nd Period: 1-2
Deeside Dragons continued their dominance as the game resumed for the 2nd period. Both #18 Ryan Jones and #14 Colin Cromie having chances to extend their team’s lead early on.
At 22:26, they had another opportunity to score on the powerplay when Wild’s #77 Ben McLennan was sent to the box for two minutes on a tripping call.
The home team almost had their second goal at 22:42 when a deflected shot ricocheted off the Wild defence and then off the Wild goal-post, a lucky run of play for Widnes Wild who managed to remain at just a one goal deficit.
The Wild were able to get their first attack of the period going at 25:14 when #44 Dani Haid found himself able to break down the ice on a counter, but nothing became of his chance.
Wild netminder #35 Luca Tessadri made a series of great saves between 26:10 and 31:00 to deny Deeside Dragons a second goal. The first being off a powerful shot from #86 Jake Witkowski, then a close range shot from #39 Matty Barlow, before another chance from #86 Jake Witkowski.
Widnes Wild #8 Flynn Massie found himself sat in the box at 32:53, receiving two minutes for boarding.
At 34:12 Dragons #55 Ross Kennedy headed to the box, first for two minutes for cross-checking, then for an additional two minutes due to unsportsmanlike conduct.
On the powerplay for the first time in the 2nd period, Widnes Wild were able to make use of their extra man and level the game. #18 Johnathan Williamson with the goal at 35:19, the assist going to Wild’s #4 Nathan Bennett.
Following the equaliser, at 37:52, Wild’s #29 Josh Guy was sat for two minutes for holding.
The missing man was of no disadvantage to Widnes Wild however, who at 39:22 succeeded in gaining the lead through a shorthanded goal from #8 Flynn Massie, who picks up a rebound from the Dragons netminder and slots the puck confidently into the net to give the visitors the lead before the break. Assisted by #18 Johnathan Williamson.
3rd Period: 3-3
Widnes Wild began the final period with a two-minute penalty for #77 Ben McLennan, who sat for hooking at 40:58.
They received another penalty at 42:43 when #7 Alex Parry sat for two minutes for hooking.
The Deeside Dragons capitalised on their powerplay at 43:08 when #46 Charles Phillips found the back of the Wild net for the home teams equaliser, assisted by #55 Ross Kennedy.
Dragons forward #86 Jake Witkowski found himself a great chance at 48:26, his shot headed wide but he was rewarded with a penalty shot, which he confidently scored, sending the home team ahead once again.
The Dragons received a penalty at 48:42, #61 Jared Dickinson getting two minutes for boarding.
As both teams continued to search for goals, Wild’s #17 Andrew Hopkins was sent to the box for two minutes after a continued hand on the puck at 50:02, putting the Deeside Dragons on their third powerplay of the period.
Their advantage didn’t last for long however, as at 51:28 Dragons #39 Matty Barlow headed to the box for two minutes for roughing.
The Widnes Wild bench found themselves receiving a penalty at 53:03, the two minutes being served by #19 Jared Knowles after the team had too many players on the ice.
The visitors took the pause in gameplay as an opportunity to call a 30 second timeout before they played the final six minutes of the game.
Dragons #39 Matty Barlow found himself in the penalty box once again at 54:26, this time serving two minutes for boarding.
Wild’s #7 Alex Parry had a great opportunity to equalise the game at 54:53 when he received the puck directly in front of the Dragons net, but his shot is saved by Dragons netminder.
At the other end, at 56:40, Wild netminder #35 Luca Tessadri made an excellent save to deny Deeside Dragons their fourth of the game.
The save came at a perfect time for the Wild, who continued to push for their equaliser and were rewarded at 58:54 when #8 Flynn Massie’s looping shot bypassed both the Dragons defence and netminder to drop into the back of the net and force the game into a 3-on-3 overtime.
Overtime: 4-3
The Widnes Wild had the first chance of overtime at 62:12 when #7 Alex Parry travelled down the ice and was able to get his shot off, but he can’t find the back of the net.
The Deeside Dragons thought they’d won it at 62:23 when they were able to find the back of the net, but no goal was given and the game continued.
Widnes Wild continued to find chances in overtime; #17 Andrew Hopkins having the perfect opportunity to end the game at 63:04 when he was fouled in front of the Dragons’ goal and awarded a penalty shot. Unfortunately for the Wild, he was unable to keep his shot on target, and the puck flew over the net.
Wild’s #8 Flynn Massie found himself an opportunity to complete his hat-trick and end the game at 63:34 when he broke quickly down the ice, but his shot nicked off the Dragon’s goal post.
He found himself heading for the box moments later at 63:48, sitting for two minutes for tripping.
A powerplay seemed to be exactly what Deeside Dragons needed to finish the game. #86 Jake Witkowski with the game winning shot to complete his hattrick as the home team came away with the win.
Match MVPs were awarded to Wild’s #35 Luca Tessadri for his confident performance in the Wild net and Dragons #86 Jake Witkowski for his three goals and game-winning shot.
STATS-
Widnes Wild: Flynn Massie (2+0), Johnathan Williamson (1+1), Nathan Bennett (0+1)
Deeside Dragons: Jake Witkowski (3+0), Colin Cromie (0+1), MJ Clancy (0+1), Charles Phillips (1+0), Ross Kennedy (0+1)
Article written by Carys Wallace
Images by Sandra Koetter