Moralee Play-Off Quarter Final 1st leg From the first drop of the puck, you could feel it—this wasn’t just another…

Moralee Play-Off Quarter Final 1st leg

From the first drop of the puck, you could feel it—this wasn’t just another game. This was playoff hockey in the Den.

Both sets of fans made themselves heard, creating a wall of noise that never really let up. It had everything too: pace, scrappy battles, big hits, controversy, and a whole lot of goals.

And when the dust settled, the Dragons had one foot firmly in the semi-finals.

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🔥 First Period – Fast Start, Early Fireworks

Deeside wasted no time lighting the lamp.

Just 4:42 in, Colin Cromie opened the scoring, finishing off a tidy play from Jake Witkowski and Ross Kennedy to send the home crowd into a frenzy. The Dragons were flying early, and that pressure paid off again midway through the period.

At 12:42, Witkowski got in on the act himself, doubling the lead after slick work from Jared Dickinson and Cromie.

Widnes weren’t about to roll over, though. William Daley pulled one back at 17:41 to keep the Wild within touching distance heading into the break.

Game on… or so it seemed.

Second Period – Dragons Blow It Wide Open

This was where the game was won. Simple as that.

At 27:12, Jake Witkowski struck again—and it proved to be the turning point. From that moment, Deeside looked calmer, sharper, and completely in control. You could feel the shift in the building.

Just 94 seconds later (28:46), Witkowski completed his hat-trick, finishing off another slick move with support from Kennedy and Cromie. The Dragons were in full flight now.

Then came that moment.

At 34:26, Theo Malone unleashed an absolute screamer—an unstoppable strike that lit up the Den and had fans on their feet. Pure playoff magic.

And Deeside weren’t done.

At 38:57, Rhys Edwards added a fourth of the period, capping off a relentless spell of pressure. Wave after wave of Dragons attacks proved too much for Widnes, who simply couldn’t get a foothold.

Four goals. No reply. Total control.

Third Period – Trading Blows

To their credit, Widnes came out swinging in the third and finally found some reward for their efforts.

At 45:43, Alex Parry—up against his former side—pulled one back for the Wild, giving the travelling fans something to cheer about. It was a reminder that Widnes still carried a threat, especially on the break.

But Deeside weren’t about to let momentum slip.

At 51:20, Daniels Fadejevs restored control for the Dragons, finishing off a well-worked play. Then came one of the most bizarre and brilliant goals of the night just 31 seconds later…

Ross Kennedy unleashed a rocket that Tessadri appeared to glove cleanly—but the sheer power carried both glove and puck over the line. You don’t see that every day.

Widnes kept pushing and were rewarded again, with Andrew Hopkins finding the net at 54:10, while Michael Gilbert’s breakaway goal underlined their counter-attacking threat throughout the night.

But in truth, the game was already beyond reach. Deeside had done the damage in that devastating second period.

🧊 Key Moments & Talking Points

• Witkowski’s Hat-Trick Heroics: A clinical, high-impact performance when it mattered most.
• Malone’s Screamer: A goal worthy of any playoff highlight reel.
• Turning Point: Witkowski’s second goal (27:12) ignited a four-goal blitz that buried Widnes.
• Controversy: Witkowski was controversially called for embellishment despite a clear trip—one that didn’t go down well in the stands.
• Physical Edge: Widnes targeted Ross Kennedy throughout, with several heavy hits leaving him shaken—but he kept going, showing serious grit.

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🥅 Between the Pipes

Tyler de la Bertouche was solid for the Dragons, turning aside 26 of 29 shots and handling pressure well when called upon.

At the other end, Luka Tessadri faced an absolute barrage—51 shots. Despite the scoreline, he pulled off several key stops, though the sheer volume and quality of chances proved too much.

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🌟 Standout Performers

• Deeside Dragons MVP: Rhys Edwards – dominant, creative, and heavily involved throughout.
• Widnes Wild MVP: Alex Parry – made his presence known against his former side.

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🔄 Looking Ahead

It’s not over yet.

The second leg takes place tonight in Widnes (5:30 face-off), and while the Dragons take a commanding lead, playoff hockey has a funny way of throwing up surprises.

But if Deeside bring anything close to this level again… they’ll take some stopping.

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📊 Stats Section

📌 Interesting Stats

• Deeside outshot Widnes 51–29, controlling large stretches of the game
• Jake Witkowski recorded a hat-trick in a standout playoff performance
• Four unanswered goals in the 2nd period turned the game decisively