Bulldogs Junior Review - life on the road for Under-18s, 14s & 10s

LEADING LIGHT: Thomas Taylor scored four goals to help the Under-14s to a one-goal win at Telford.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS’ Under-14s made the long trip down to Telford, but it proved to be a worthwhile one as they headed home on the back of a 5-4 victory.

Captain Thomas Taylor led the way with four of the Bulldogs’ goals, while Thomas Lee chipped in with the other.

After falling behind after just six seconds to a quickfire Jack Williams strike, it was the Bulldogs who went in at the end of the first period 2-1 ahead, Taylor first getting on the board at 8.37 before putting his team ahead at 12.12.

Williams levelled for the hosts just 35 seconds into the second period, but Telford found themselves behind again when Taylor completed his hat-trick on the power play at 22.31.

Williams was determined to keep uo with Taylor and sealed his own hat-trick to make it 3-3 just 29 seconds into the third period, only for Lee to pounce and restore the Bulldogs’ lead, just under three minutes later.

Taylor bagged his fourth with just under three minutes remaining to make it 5-3 and even though Williams matched his efforts, the Bulldogs held out for a brilliant win.

On a day when all three junior teams in action were involved in road trips, the Under-18s made the rather shorter journey to Sheffield.

They were up against it from early on, Sheffield going ahead with just over two minutes gone through Ben Cutts and racing into a 4-0 lead inside eight  minutes through further strikes from Regan Kidd, Cutts and Gabriel Fisher.

Oli Massey got the Bulldogs on the board when he fired home from the bottom of the left circle at 9.49, but any hopes of a comeback were effectively ended when the hosts went into the first break 7-1 ahead through further strikes from Cutts, Roebuck and Weeks.

Jacob Brammer, Aidan Dancer and Fisher added further goals in the second period, while Daragh Spawforth fired home from long range for the Bulldogs’ second.

Cutts and Fisher both took their tally to four for the game in the third period, with Kidd grabbing his second to wrap up an emphatic 14-2 win.

Also on Saturday, the Under-10s headed down to Nottingham to take part in a cross-ice tournament at the National Ice Centre against the hosts and teams from Sheffield and Sutton.

Bulldogs’ Under-10s take a moment during their cross-ice tournament in Nottingham

The Bulldogs got off to the perfect start when they beat Nottingham 1-0 thanks to a Steve Abdy goal and a shutout from goalie Parker Livingstone.

Next came a 14-goal thriller against Sutton, unfortunately the Bulldogs coming off second best in a 9-5 defeat, their goals coming from Stevie Abdy (2), Evan Bulmer and Finley Mardell.

Further defeats followed against Nottingham (Steve Abdy on target in a 4-1 loss), Sutton (6-0) an Sutton (4-0)

Team manager, Aimee Clarke, said: “Although we lost five out of the six games, the defensive play from Jackson Livingstone and George Clarke was strong. 

“Parker made some phenomenal saves in goal, earning him the Spirit of the Game. 

“It was a great day all in all and the kids should be super-proud of themselves after coming up against some tough teams.”