Bulldogs warned as they end 2023 in disappointing style
NO WAY THROUGH: Jake Lowndes makes a save off Sutton’s Nathan Bennett during Sunday’s clash at Bradford Ice Arena. Picture courtesy of Alien Aerial Photography.
ANDY BROWN is looking for big improvements in the new year as Bradford Bulldogs ended 2023 on a low note.
A 7-5 loss at Sheffield Titans - after a performance the Bulldogs’ head coach described as “embarrassing” - was followed by a 5-0 defeat at home to title-chasing Sutton Sting.
It leaves the Bulldogs third-bottom in the standings, with just five wins to their name from the 17 games played so far.
The weekend had started brightly at Ice Sheffield on Saturday when early goals from Josh Stockton and the returning Rhys Edwards put the Bulldogs 2-0 ahead against a Titans team missing several key players.But what followed left Brown far from impressed.
“We were embarrassing,” said Brown. “There’s no other way to put it. Sheffield only had 12 players, with most of their key guys missing. Our lack of effort and desire was appalling and I can only apologise to any fans that made the trip down to watch.
“On Sunday I made it quite clear that it would be the last game in a Bradford shirt for anyone who played with the same attitude as the previous day.”
There were only 42 seconds on the clock when Stockton showed neat hands to round netminder Nathan Bell to put the visitors’ ahead.
That lead was doubled when Edwards was first to react to a Connor Medley shot cannoning off the pipes in the 10th minute.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN: Bulldogs’ Lucas Vince (left) tracks back during Sunday’s clash against Sutton Sting at The Pound. Picture courtesy of Alien Aerial Photography.
But the Dogs failed to press home their advantage and paid the price when they let the hosts back in the game before the first period was done, possession being coughed up in the corner to allow a pass to Oliver Wagg who was left free to fire past Sam Bolwell at 16.45.
Less than two minutes had passed when Eddie Harper was left all alone in front to draw Sheffield level, the hosts then forging 4-2 ahead when Ben Roebuck’s fine individual effort at 27.36 was followed by a second for Wagg, who doubled his tally from close range.
With 24 seconds remaining, the Titans made the most of a power play opportunity when a neat three-man move was finished clinically by Harper.
Jason Devaney had to replace Bolwell in net for the third period given a suspected concussion suffered by the Bulldogs’ first-choice goaltender and his first job was to fish the puck out of the back of the net after Scott Howells blasted one into the roof of the net just 36 seconds in to make it 6-2.
But the emergency netminder made some key saves thereafter, keeping his team in the game while, at the other end, Edwards offered them further hope with a brilliant individual effort at 41.17, a move that started from the edge of his own zone off a feed from Lucas Vince.
Sheffield gave themselves some further insurance when Joshua Rawsthorne’s marker made it 7-3 at 51.40, but the Bulldogs made sure the hosts’ couldn’t switch off when two goals in as many minutes pulled them within touching distance.
TAKE THAT: Dean Boothroyd checks Sutton Sting’s Calum Russell at The Poiund on Sunday. Picture courtesy of Alien Aerial Photography.
Edwards completed his hat-trick with another well-taken breakaway goal before Declan Kime rounded Bell to make it 7-5 with just under four minutes remaining.
Momentum was with the Bulldogs and Devaney was pulled with just under two minutes to go to allow the extra skater, but they couldn’t close the gap any further.
Having failed to score in either of their previous games against Sutton this season, Sunday’s clash against the same opponents was always likely to be a tough affair.
And so it proved, the Bulldogs finding themselves 2-0 down at the end of the first through strikes from Ryan Apsley and Nathan Bennett.
Just before the halfway mark, captain Lawson Glasby made it 3-0, Jacob Truswell piling on the agony for the hosts at 31.10 with making it 5-0 with a 35th-minute strike.
LET’S TALK: Bulldogs and Sting players exchange views during Sunday’s NIHL North Two clash at The Pound. Picture courtesy of Alien Aerial Photography.
The Bulldogs enjoyed more possession and created more chances in the third but they were to be left frustrated by a miserly Sting for a third time this season.
Despite a third straight defeat, Brown was encouraged by his players’ efforts and willingness to compete - something he felt was lacking from many the day before.
“Our response was much better and although we couldn’t find the back of Sutton’s net I felt we competed for most of the game,” added Brown.
“The first half of the season has been pretty disappointing. I know we’ve had our fair share of injuries but if we want to turn things around we’re going to have to find several more gears to go through.”
The Bulldogs return to action with a double-header weekend in early January, travelling to second-bottom Kingston Sharks on Saturday, January 6 (face-off, 12.30pm) before hosting Coventry NIHL Blaze the following day (5.30pm).