Junior Review: Bulldogs Under-14s find it tough going against Telford

ON TARGET: Thomas Lee drew Bulldogs Under-14s level towards the end of the second period against Telford. Picture: Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

THERE was just the one junior team in action for the Bulldogs this weekend, the Under-14s playing host to a Telford team they had beaten on the road the week before.

Going into the third period, there was everything to play for, but a five-minute spell in which the Bulldogs conceded four goals proved decisive, Telford’s 7-3 triumph seeing them gain swift revenge for the previous week’s 4-3 defeat.

It was the Bulldogs who took an early lead at 3.59 when captain Thomas Taylor broke clear to fire home, only for the scores to be level just 12 seconds later when Jack Williams lit the lamp from close range. 

Telford enjoyed the greater chances and zone time in the second and got themselves ahead towards the end when Elliot Barker’s shot from distance through traffic took a deflection to beat an unsighted Mardell at 27.17.

DOUBLE UP: Thomas Taylor followed up his hat-trick in Telford the previous weekend with two goals against the same opponents on home ice.

Again, the lead didn’t last too long as the Bulldogs came roaring back to make it 2-2 through a cracking strike from Thomas Lee off the left boards at 28.25.

But the visitors were the happier going in at the second intermission when Mason Childs restored their one-goal lead with just four seconds remaining, his speculative shot from behind the net deflecting in off Mardell.

Just over three minutes into the third, with everything still to play for, the game was effectively won and lost.

Gabriel Benfield doubled Telford’s lead at 33.22, with Williams making it 5-2 just 31 seconds later.

Just over two more minutes had elapsed when a second for Benfield heaped further pressure on Bradford, before Williams completed his hat-trick at 38.01.

Taylor quickly doubled his tally within nine seconds of the restart to offer slim hope for the hosts, but they couldn’t reduce the deficit any further.