Agony for Bulldogs as they find themselves edged out in 11-goal thriller

CRUEL BLOW: Bradford Bulldogs looked guaranteed at least a point from their home clash against Sheffield Titans, only to be denied in the closing seconds.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS saw their losing streak extend to four games in the harshest possible way, when a late strike handed victory fo NIHL North Two rivals Sheffield Titans at Little Horton Lane.

The 6-5 defeat was tough on the hosts - for who Connor Medley struck four goals. They had not been behind at any time in the entire game, leading 3-1 at the end of the first and again 4-3 in the third.

But the visiting Titans never gave up and were rewarded with a late winning goal just 18 seconds from the end.

After the 9-0 defeat at the hands of unbeaten Sutton Sting the previous weekend, head coach Andy Brown was pleased with the effort from his team in the opening 20 minutes.

“I asked the players for a response to last week’s performance and for the first 20 minutes that’s what I got,” he said. “I felt we dominated the first period and probably should have been more than 3-1 up. 

“But once again we failed to maintain our game for a full 60 minutes. We allowed Sheffield back in and they dominated the second period. 

“The third was more even but we didn’t take our chances 5 on 3 to kill the game off and paid the price allowing a goal with just 15 seconds remaining.”

FOUR-WARD: Connor Medley scored four goals against Sheffield Titans, but still found himself on the losing side. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

Having gone without scoring for 120 minutes, the Bulldogs ended their goal drought with only 73 seconds gone when Kieran Furlong’s speculative effort cannoned off Josh Stockton in front of goal and fell nicely for Connor Medley to fire home from the bottom of the right circle.

Just under eight more minutes had passed when the Bulldogs doubled their lead, dogged determination from Lucas Vince seeing him rob the puck off goalie Nathaniel Bell from behind the bet before setting up Medley to grab his second from the right circle.

Sheffield halved the deficit just over three minutes later when the puck bounced clear for Eddie Harper to break free down centre ice before sliding the puck past Jake Lowndes.

But the period belonged to the hosts, who restored their two-goal lead at 15.42 when good pressure from Declan Kime saw the puck break for Medley, who advanced on net before setting up Stockton at the back post to tap home.

The second period was a total contrast, with the Titans enjoying greater possession and chances. Two goals in 18 seconds saw the visitors draw level for the first time, Bradley Fothergill back-handing home at 26.54 after a 3-on-2 break down the middle initiated by Rory Ross Docherty.

Then before the announcer had even got his words out, the scores were level, a scramble in front of the net seeing the puck fall to George Hallam, who poked home from close range.

But the Bulldogs rallied and got themselves ahead again before the halfway mark when Stockton sped away down the left before driving towards net and offloading to Medley at the back door where he tapped home to seal his hat-trick at 29.06.

That’s how it looked like staying until the break, only for Sheffield to hit back again at 38.21 when Ben Roebuck was left free to fire home from close range.

The prolific Medley then made it four for the game to put the Bulldogs ahead for a third time when he was set up by Stockton for a power play effort from close range with 45.56 on the clock.

But a hooking call on Archie Grayson handed the Titans a power play of their own, one they took advantage of at 47.08 when a rebound off Lowndes found its way to Scott Howells to score from close range.

Chances came and went at either end and overtime looked a certainty until the hosts suffered the cruellest of blows. 

Pressure in the Sheffield zone broke down, allowing Aidan Dancer to take the puck from centre ice and find Roebuck to his left, the Titans forward rounding Lowndes to back-hand home and secure both points.