Juniors Review: Fantastic four from O’Sullivan and Bower

FOUR-SOME: Frank O’Sullivan led the way for Bulldogs’ Under-14s when he scored four goals in the 7-4 win over Manchester Storm Academy. Picture courtesy of Andy Bourke/Podium Prints.

BRADFORD BULLDOGS’ Under-14s got the second phase of their Division One North season off to a promising start when they came from behind to beat rivals Manchester Storm 7-4.

With the division being split into two, the Bulldogs effectively find themselves in a four-team group with Manchester, Nottingham and Leeds Junior Knights.

Two places are up for grabs at the National Finals at Ice Sheffield in May, with Leeds having confirmed their status as league champions and booking the first spot at the season finale with a 6-2 win at Nottingham on Sunday.

Having finished the ‘regular season’ in fourth spot, the Bulldogs had a bit of ground to make up on their rivals, trailing Manchester by two points and third-placed Nottingham by one. 

Their chances of closing the gap looked bleak after a first period double from Mario Vaksmansky put the visitors ahead at Bradford Ice Arena on Saturday.

But three goals in four minutes early in the second period turned the game on its head, Frank O’Sullivan halving the deficit at 16.50 before Charlie Barker pounced on a rebound in front of the net to level matters at 19.31.

O’Sullivan then got the hosts ahead for the first time in the game 40 seconds later, although a power play opportunity saw Manchester quickly level through Leo Cooper just over a minute later.

In a game which flowed end to end, that is how it stayed until just over five minutes into the third when O’Sullivan marked a fine performance with his hat-trick strike, before a Will Durgan double in the space of just over a minute put some daylight between the two teams to make it 6-3 at 39.41.

O’Sullivan added some further security with his fourth of the afternoon at 41.24 and although Cooper’s second reduced the deficit, the Bulldogs saw out the game, thanks in no small part to a man-of-the-match performance from netminder Jacob Mardell, who turned away 41 of the 45 shots on his goal.

Shortly after, the Under-12s took to the ice against Whitley Bay, making it a home double with a 5-1 victory.

In a keenly-contested encounter, the Bulldogs found themselves 2-0 ahead before the first period break, Kyle Bower scoring twice in the space of 32 seconds. 

LEADING LAD: Kyle Bower celebrates one of his four goals in the 5-1 home win over Whitley Bay. Picture courtesy of Alien Aerial Photography

With just 90 seconds of the second period gone, Bower sealed his hat-trick, the 3-0 lead remaining that until early in the third period when Jonas Mthethwa increased the advantage at 32.20.

The visitors gave themselves faint hopes of a comeback when Nathan Hartley pulled one back at 42.20, only for Bower to make it four for the day three minutes later to seal a welcome and deserved victory.

The Under-16s headed to Ice Sheffield looking to build on their win at home to Whitley Bay and, with two periods gone were well in the game.

But three unanswered goals in the third did for them, with hosts Sheffield running out 7-2 winners.

After falling behind to a second-minute strike from former Bulldog Miles Jones, the visitors were soon on level terms when Daragh Spawforth played in Danny Harrison, who backhanded into the top corner for a power play goal at 4.25.

That was how it stayed until just under five minutes into the second period when Finley Williams restored the home side’s lead, one that was extended further through Harry Illingworth at 23.47.

But only 12 more seconds had elapsed when a fierce shot from Frank O’Sullivan made it a one-goal game again and it looked like staying at 3-2 through to the second intermission only for Kingston Mackenzie weaved his way through to double the hosts’ lead again with 36 seconds remaining.

Bradford stayed in the game still, though, although their resolve was broken when Alisha Potts made it 5-2 at 38.04, further strikes coming from Regan Kidd and McKenzie to give the scoreline some gloss.