Four point weekend puts Tigers back in playoff race

Autocraft Telford Tigers returned to home ice after a boost of a win on the road against Bristol Pitbulls which narrowed the gap to the playoff places to just three points. Tigers needed to keep the pressure on Solway with a home win.

Tigers made the perfect start to the game with the opening goal after just nineteen seconds. Harry Ferguson and Eric Henderson set up David Thomson who hit a low shot past Luke Clark in the Phantoms’ goal.  Four minutes later the lead was doubled when Fin Howell’s shot was saved and Scott McKenzie was on hand to turn the rebound into the open net. 

With five minutes of the period left, the home side had a third goal. Howell’s sent Devon Skoleski in on goal and the Tigers’ import forward hit a wrist shot that went in off Clark’s glove.

A fourth goal followed to give Tigers’ a comfortable lead at the break. Ferguson shot from the right circle with the puck going in under Clark’s pads. Peterborough complained that the puck had gone in through the side of the net which had come detached from the post but after consultation the officials awarded the goal.

Tigers added a fifth goal in the opening minute of the second period when Thomson set up Henderson who shot through Clark from the slot.

With Telford firmly in control, it looked like the game was over but ill discipline during the rest of the period cost Telford dear. A steady procession of players heading to the penalty box proved costly.  Tom Norton scored a power play goal followed by a goal from Louie Kynaston.

Peterborough then had a 5-on-3 power play when Cameron Hough shot the puck at Brad Day after the whistle which caused Scott McKenzie to slash Hough across the legs and then Day shot the puck back at Hough. The result of the incident was Tigers were two players down for two minutes. The Phantoms scored a third goal through Nathan Salam and with the Telford crowd losing patience with the officials, a further penalty - high sticking against Skoleski led to a fourth goal for the visitors. In the dying seconds of the period Janne Laakkonen scored to reduce the deficit to just one goal.

Peterborough levelled the game five minutes into the third period when Jasper Foster scored from the slot to silence the home crowd. 

With eight minutes of the game left, Tigers got a 5 on 3 power play which proved crucial. Joe Gretton hooked Skoleski as he broke towards goal and Kynaston took exception to the call and was called for misconduct.  Telford took full advantage of the extra players when Skoleski and McKenzie combined to allow Henderson to shoot into the open net.

Tigers maintained possession of the puck well during the rest of the game and sealed the victory with two minutes left to play. Henderson broke towards goal and hit a superb wrist shot into the top left hand corner of the goal to complete his hat trick.

Tigers’ win, coupled with Solway’s defeat to Romford, sees Telford a point behind Solway in the league standings.

Final Score: Autocraft Telford Tigers 7 Peterborough Phantoms 5.

Scorers: Eric Henderson (3), David Thomson, Harry Ferguson, Scott McKenzie and Devon Skoleski.

Man of the match: Eric Henderson.

After the game Head Coach Tom Watkins, commented, “A great result for us in the end!

"I’ve got to mention the support from the fans this evening, at a time when we needed it the most. We got a good start in the first period with four unanswered goals and took a five goal lead with a quick goal at the start of the second period. From there we were very poor, only generating two shots on goal in the second period and taking unnecessary penalties, something that we have identified being an issue. We can’t be taking so many stick related penalties and certainly not in the offensive zone.  I think we took 3 or 4 minor penalties in the offensive zone tonight, it puts us under pressure and means you have to shorten the bench and fatigue becomes an issue. You give good players those opportunities and they will punish you.

"We showed good composure in the third period especially when they had tied the game at 5-5, we were smart and kept doing the little things well. I say it all the time: if you don’t score on your five on three power play opportunities you don’t win games so that was such a big moment to capitalise on and take the momentum back.

"A hard fought win to seal a much needed four point weekend.”