Richard Haggar scores in the Wild's 5-1 win over Solihull (Photo by Geoff White)
Sunday 2nd October 2022 – Moralee Division
YKK Widnes Wild 5 – Solihull Barons 1
The YKK sponsored Widnes Wild put in a superb performance to beat fellow mid-tablers Solihull Barons 5-1 at Planet Ice Widnes on Sunday.
This was the perfect way to bounce back from the previous weekend’s home defeat to Whitley Warriors and the Wild looked a completely different side.
Several players who had missed the previous game were back in the starting line-up and the squad was further boosted by the midweek arrival of Chris Gee who has returned to the Wild roster after some time away from the game.
The robust utility player had previously played 4 seasons for Widnes and was a member of the team that won the Laidler Division league and play off double in 2019 and also the North 21 cup in 2021.
Widnes started the game at a furious pace and they took the lead after just 90 seconds with a goal from Jack Murray. The lead was doubled just 72 seconds later with a first goal of the season from Joe Greaves and the visiting Barons were already on the ropes.
The Wild showed much more composure and confidence on the puck going forward and looked as if they might score again at any moment.
As it turned out, the score remained 2-0 at the first period break and, although Solihull did create a few chances of their own, they weren’t able to make anything of them.
The second period continued in similar vein to the first. Widnes extended the lead with a goal after just 8 seconds from Adam Jasecko – his first for the club – and then edged further ahead with a strike from Player Coach Richard Haggar just 37 seconds after that.
A fifth goal for the Wild followed on 30 minutes – scored by Nathan Parkes-Britton and the game was effectively over as a contest. The Wild eased off the gas at this point and sat back to protect their lead. This handed more puck possession to the Barons, who eventually outshot Widnes 14 to 11 in the period but the score remained 5-0 at the second break.
Solihull had more of the play in the third period but were mostly kept at bay by a solid Wild defence and a superb display in goal by Miles Finney.
Widnes were out-shot from 23 to 12 in the final period and the breakthrough came on 52 minutes when the Barons finally managed to score a consolation goal.
That wasn’t enough to spark any sort of late revival, however, and the Wild held out to secure a thoroughly deserved 5-1 victory.
The Wild have back to back home games this weekend as they take on local rivals Deeside Dragons in the North West M56 Cup on Saturday and the Nottingham Lions in the league on Sunday at Planet Ice Widnes. Both games face off at 5.30pm.
WILD JUNIOR ACADEMY
The Wild Academy Under14 team picked up an impressive 0-5 win away at Leeds U14s on Sunday. Finn Ogden and Miks Kirstens shared the netminding duties and notched up a well-deserved shut out between them.
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