Bulldogs fold as Altrincham hold all the Aces to shut them out

TOUGH EVENING: Jake Lowndes turned away 45 of the 51 shots on his net. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

IT was one to forget for Bradford Bulldogs when they came off a distant second-best to NIHL North Two rivals Altrincham Aces on Sunday - going down 6-0. 

It was the third time the Bulldogs have been shut out this season and represented another chance at closing the gap on the teams immediately above them. 

But the Bulldogs have a chance to exact swift revenge on the Aces when the two meet again this Sunday (Nov 25) at Bradford Ice Arena, the Cheshire team having already won at The Pound last month. 

In Altrincham on Sunday, the first 20 minutes proved a tight, cagey affair with the Aces only 1-0 up after David Kovacs’ strike through traffic from distance eluded Jake Lowndes after just 35 seconds. 

The game was just a few seconds shy of the halfway mark when the hosts doubled their lead, Elliot Hunt redirecting from in front off a shot by Kane Morin. 

Just over two minutes later, the Bulldogs’ task got even harder when, with defenceman Jacob Brownlie in the box on a tripping call, the Aces made it 3-0. 

Ronnie Grimes saw his initial effort from the right circle denied by Lowndes’ outstretched right pad, only for the puck to tall kindly for Josh Milnes who had time to tap the rebound into the empty net at 31.57. 

It could have been more for the hosts as they dominated the middle section, out-shooting the Bulldogs 21-3. 

It was another spell on the man advantage that enabled Altrincham to effectively kill off the game in the 45th minute. 

A face-off win in the right circle saw the puck quickly switched to the opposite side by former Bulldogs’ forward Malachi Budd to Grimes, who found the top right-hand corner with a rasping drive from 15 yards. 

With just over four minutes remaining, a disheveled Bulldogs suffered further agony when Ollie Gotts fired home from close range after a scramble in front of the net. 

Less than a minute had passed when, at 56.36, the Aces forged further ahead, this time David Kamenicek applying the finishing touch after good work down low by Jake Frost had found him left all alone in front to fire home from close range to complete a 6-0 win. 

Catch the Bulldogs in action this SUNDAY when they hos Altrincham Aces at The Pound.

FACE-OFF: 5.30pm; DOORS: 4.45pm.

ADMISSION: Adults £6; Concessions (OAPs and Under-6 to Under-16) £3; Family of four £15; Kids (under-5) for a quid!

Thanks to our sponsors VTR NORTH, Crowther Mayoh Financial Services Ltd, Wooden Creations, MJ Sports, Yordas Group and Logistiq Group