Widnes Wild 5

Blackburn Hawks 6

BLACKBURN Hawks clinched a dramatic NIHL Midlands Cup

victory at Widnes thanks to an overtime goal from import Petr Valusiak.

Widnes were quick off the mark and first to score with a power play goal in the fourth minute after Lee Pollitt was given a two minute penalty for slashing. But it took the Hawks just three minutes to equalise with an even handed goal from head coach James Neil.

Tempers frayed in the 10th minute as Hawks Joe Greaves was given a two-plus-two minute penalty for fighting and 10 minutes for misconduct to sit out the rest of the period.

But Hawks went into the first break with a goal advantage though with Pollitt netting a power play goal after Wild’s Sam Anderson was given a two minute penalty for tripping.

The second period was evenly matched as both teams adding a single goal to their tallies – Widnes equalising through Shaun Dippnall before Jack Murray restored the Hawks’ lead.

It wasn’t long after when the gloves came off for the home side’s Dan Fay and young Hawk Ronnie Grimes who each spent time on the penalty bench for fighting.

Fans were treated to a fiery goal-fest in the final period of normal time. Jakub Hajek levelled for the home side but Neil restored Hawks’ lead with a superb strike.

Widnes dug deep to get themselves in front scoring two goals in succession with Dippnall and Hajek both netting their second goals of the match.

It was looking like the home side would sneak the win but with 18 seconds before the final buzzer, James Royds fired the puck home to take the game to overtime.

And the Hawks sealed victory when fans’ favourite Valusiak snatched the win less than two minutes into overtime with a

superb shot.

The victory sees the Hawks climb to third in the table.