Bulldogs undone by Jets’ third-period goal blitz

TREBLE TAP: Josh Stockton scored a hat-trick for Bradford Bulldogs in their clash with Hull Jets, but it couldn’t prevent a 9-4home defeat. Picture: AndyBourke/Podium Prints.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS lost further ground on their rivals in their pursuit of a play-off spot when they went down 9-4 at home to high-flying Hull Jets.

For two periods, the hosts were a good match for the second-placed visitors, particularly when Connor Medley pulled his team level to make it 4-4 just 18 seconds into the third.

But four quickfire goals in the space of just over six minutes put the game to bed, allowing the Jets to maintain their outside chance of hauling in leaders Telford Tigers in the battle for the NIHL Two North regular season title.

At the other end of the table, the Bulldogs sunk to the bottom after the Nottingham Lions edged out Sutton Sting 3-2 in overtime.

“We were much better against Hull than we have been for the past few games,” said Bulldogs’ head coach Andy Brown. “We’ve worked on our offence and this showed as we created far more scoring chances. 

“I felt we frustrated Hull for 40 minutes and when we scored first in the third to tie the game up I thought perhaps we’d take something from it. 

“But as has been the case many times this season, we took our foot off the gas and allowed our opposition to dominate for the remainder of the period and ended with a scoreline that I don’t think did us justice.

“Making that top four is now a mammoth ask. Mathematically it’s possible but we just aren’t playing consistently enough to put ourselves in that picture this season.”

Only six seconds had passed before the Bulldogs broke the deadlock through Josh Stockton, the Jets replying in the fifth minute when Kieran Beach made the most of a power play with Tomas Mitrik in the box on a hooking call. 

But it was the Bulldogs who went in at the first intermission a goal to the good, after Stockton doubled up with 59 seconds of the period remaining. 

Hull are second for a reason and showed why with two goals inside a minute from Mark Florence and Joseph Anson which put them 3-2 ahead in the 26th minute. 

But Stockton clearly had his sights on goal set perfectly when he dragged his team back level with a hat-trick strike just after the halfway mark.

A second for Florence gave Jets the edge again but when Medley levelled at 40.18 the home crowd sensed an upset.

It wasn’t to be, Hull taking the lead once again through a second for Anson at 43.18, with Florence’s hat-trick marker just over two minutes later an ominous sign.

The lead became three goals when Beach struck his second at 46.33 before the game was put out of sight completely at 49.26 by Boris Giba, the impressive Florence capping a fine display by firing a fourth for himself at 52.40.

The Bulldogs play host to Sutton Sting this Saturday (4.45pm face-off).
Tickets are £5 adults; £2 Under-16s and concessions and £10 family (two adults, two under-16s).