The YKK Widnes Wild faced the current league champions, Billingham Stars on Sunday evening in their first home match of the 24/25 season, taking a 3-6 loss after a strong battle across 3 periods.
The Wild were looking to post their first league win of the season after facing a 9-2 loss to the Hull Jets on the road the previous evening after #61 Bailey Thomson fired both goals for Widnes to reduce the deficit in his first game back, following icing with NIHL side Solway Sharks during their pre-season campaign.
1st Period – (1-4)
The visitors began the first period with control of the play; their breakthrough goal coming at 7:13
through #15 Chris Sykes, assisted by #32 Michael Elder and #66 Connor McNulty.
Not a few minutes later and the Stars had added another to their total #32 Michael Elder with
another assist alongside #12 Tommy Spraggon, setting the puck up to be tapped past Wild
goaltender #31 Harry Campbell by Stars #26 Rolands Gritans at 8:02.
At 11:05 both Wild’s #22 Andrew Craik and Stars’ #65 Darren Sattersfield headed to the box for the
first penalty of the game, 2 minutes for roughing after a Wild attack was halted, leaving the game at
five on five.
Moments before both teams were to return to full strength, at 12:38, Stars extended their lead to
three; #15 Chris Sykes with his second goal of the game, a second assist for #12 Tommy Spraggon
and one for #5 James Moss.
However, Widnes quickly fought back as #12 Luke Alston was able to pull one back for the
home side with his first senior goal for the wild at 14:38 , in a quickly worked play into the Stars offensive zone, assisted by #75 Joe Howie.
The Wild comeback was pushed aside before it truly began, as a 15:20 goal from Stars’ #88 Lucas
Dowdle left the home side once again down by 3 goals, assisted by #15 Chris Sykes.
In the final minute of the first period at 19:14 another penalty was given; 2 minutes for interference for Wild’s #61 Bailey Thomson, meaning his team would begin the middle frame on a penalty kill.
2nd Period – (2-5)
After an uphill battle in the first Period, Wild conceded early in Period 2; Stars’ #5 James Moss, adding to his collection of goals from the previous night, at 21:54, assists coming from #91 Iain Brown and #14 James Hellens.
This time the Wild were quick to respond and close the gap a little more through #16 Michael Gilbert
at 23:41 with assists from #17 Andrew Hopkins and #18 Jonathon Williamson.
The hosts almost closed the gap further at 25:36 when #61 Bailey Thomson came steaming through the
Stars defence and clipped his shot off the goalpost.
The first penalty of the period came at 27:16 against Stars #26 Rolands Gritans, spending 2 minutes
in the box for holding, though the Wild were unable to capitalise on the powerplay.
Billingham Stars almost added another to their total at 29:27 when they came flying down the ice on
a quick break but Wild’s goaltender #31 Harry Campbell made an excellent pad save to keep his
team within three goals of the visitors.
The Wild were showing signs of becoming more dangerous in attack towards the end of Period 2,
especially through #61 Bailey Thomson, who often seemed to find himself in space behind the Stars
defence.
At 37:31 Wild found themselves on another powerplay after Stars #18 Joe Dowdle headed to the
penalty box for 2 minutes on an interference call, although once again they were unable to capitalise on their advantage.
3rd Period – (3-6)
Widnes Wild came out strong in the first minutes of the 3rd period, having control over possession
and shots that flew just wide of the Stars goal.
At 41:56 Stars were on a 2-minute powerplay as Wild’s #55 Owen Rae was penalised for holding; the Wild sustained offensive pressure during this time and just seconds before the numbers were even again Wild goaltender #31 Harry Campbell made an excellent save to complete the Widnes penalty kill.
It was Billingham Stars who would make the first goal of the period once again, #91 Iain Brown with
his first goal of the game, #5 James Moss and #26 Rolands Gritans with the assists at 48:28.
Two minutes later, the Wild once again managed to earn a goal back, after #6 Kai Hathaway grabbed his first senior goal for the Wild by sending the puck flying over Turnbull’s shoulder from point following a pass from behind the net by #21 Damarni James and #61 Bailey Thomson.
The final penalty of the game was a hooking call on the Stars #65 Darren Sattersfield, providing the
Wild with another 2-minute powerplay at 56:58.
Seconds after the Stars returned to full strength, they had the final opportunity of the game, with a breakaway towards the Wild goal, but the shot clipped the pipe and went wide of Campbell’s net.
Full-time at Planet Ice saw the game score finish Widnes Wild 3 – Billingham Stars 6.
MVPs were awarded to #61 Bailey Thomson following his 2 assists for the Wild, whilst #18 Joe Dowdle claimed the title for the Stars.
Officials: Shields, Sweeney, Fraley.
STATS – (1-4) (1-1) (1-1)
Widnes Wild: Kai Hathaway 1+0, Luke Alston 1+0, Michael Gilbert 1+0, Andrew Hopkins 0+1,
Jonathon Williamson 0+1, Damarni James 0+1, Bailey Thomson 0+1, Joe Howie 0+1.
Harry Campbell: (19, 12, 11) 42 Shots.
Billingham Stars: James Moss 1+2, Tommy Spraggon 0+2, James Hellens 0+1, Chris Sykes 2+1,
Rolands Gritans 1+1, Michael Elder 0+2, Connor McNulty 0+1, Lucas Dowdle 1+1, Iain Brown 1+1.
Mark Turnbull: (6, 7, 11) 24 Shots.
Article written by Carys Wallace
Images John Fitzgerald