Bradford Bulldogs to visit the Freezer this sunday
Dominating the weekend fixtures Freeze continued the momentum with a second win, destination top of the league!
Flintshire's freight train rolled on the ice in the first period against sixth placed Bradford. Sticking to the tracks the Freeze rolled on with immediate attacks, shots were fired on target time and again within the first five minutes eventually Bradford could hold out no longer conceding a slap shot goal to Dave Costello's fearsome strike. Cat and mouse exchanges began with both teams until Steve Elliott was penalised. Freeze now down a man returned to play in a defensive role, Bradford's repeated attacks were left unrewarded only coming close at one stage hitting the net post. Returning to full strength Flintshire reversed possession then retaliated again and again. Bradford's defences relentlessly menaced for several minutes submitted to a further goal from Chris Jones.
Bradford took fleeting swipes at possession managing to hold onto the puck on several occasions although seemed unable to convert any to goals. Shortly after Flintshire regained the puck to orchestrate a one-two passing manoeuvre to enable Chris Jones to score again, Bradford's defence left bewildered. Period score: 3-0.
Marc Lovell opened the second period with a bang by firing a shot on target within the first ten seconds. Flintshire forced Bradford to cower in the corner whilst the shots reigned in the first ten minutes. Pete Founds assisted by Marc Lovell challenged the defences with quick fire passing followed by a rifling shot that lingered timelessly in the air from a deflection to narrowly miss the net. Stepping up to the challenge once again Chris Jones struck a blistering shot to the upper right corner of the net in the 26th minute to bring the Freeze score to 4. Some controversy followed as a late call by officials led to a goal by Flintshire being disallowed, moments later Bradford struck the puck over Phil Crosby taking advantage of the distracted Freeze to score. Period score: 4-1.
The third period took a gritty, scrappy overtone with both sides being penalised several times, the period seemed to lack uninterrupted play. Stop- start-breakaway-block would sum up the game play throughout the majority of the period. Into the final five minutes Flintshire returned once again to full strength and immediately moved in to the attack. Bradford's defence held for just three minutes until Dave Swanston broke the tension with a goal assisted by Marc Lovell. Just over thirty seconds later Steve Elliott performed a duck and weave manoeuvre to drive home another goal for Flintshire. Bradford immediately called for a timeout. Returning to play Flintshire continued the attack until the close of the period. Mirroring Saturdays match against Lancashire Raptors the game ended Flintshire 6, Bradford 2.
MVP Freeze No.10 - Andy Chappell, Bulldogs No.1 Parker
Report by John Gibbons
