Hexagon Telford Tigers travelled to Bristol to take on the bottom of the league Pitbulls for the first game of a double header this weekend, with the Shropshire team facing the Pitbulls at home the following day. Telford were missing a number of players with Jaden Peca serving the final game of his two game suspension and Lucas Price also still suspended. Jonathan Weaver, Ricky Plant, Sam Watkins, Danny Rose, Connor Lee and Zaine McKenzie were also unavailable.
The home team have struggled this season having won only two games and Tigers made the perfect start to the game with a goal in the opening four minutes. James Smith scored his first National League goal since stepping up from the Laidler Division team after being set up by Jesse Sutton. The Pitbulls hit back ten minutes later with a goal from Ed Bradley to leave the teams level at the end of the first period.
Tigers were ahead a minute into the second period with a goal from Sutton after Vladimir Luka picked him out with a perfect pass and thirty seconds later Harry Ferguson added a third goal with a fine finish from the slot. Tigers were under pressure in the rest of the period and had Brad Day to thank for a number of saves which kept the visitors ahead and they were further ahead with four minutes of the period left. Luka scored with a trademark powerful shot from a tight angle and two minutes later Telford had a fifth goal with Ferguson scoring his second of the game whilst on the power play with a fierce shot from distance.
Tigers scored a further three goals in the third period. Fin Howells scored after being set up by Smith and was followed by Sutton’s second of the game a minute later. Tigers rounded off the scoring with a goal from Jake Price in the final minute of the game to seal the team’s biggest win of the season so far.
Final Score: Bristol Pitbulls 1 Hexagon Telford Tigers 8.
Scorers: Jesse Sutton (2), Harry Ferguson (2), James Smith, Vladimir Luka, Fin Howells and Jake Price.
Man of the match: Brad Day.
After the game Head Coach Tom Watkins, commented, “That was an important two points on the road with a scoreline that flatters us somewhat. The game was much closer than an 8-1 win, with Bristol putting us under heavy pressure for long periods. A mix of good goaltending and clinical finishing was the difference with much improvement required in the parts in between.
There will be games where we play better than that and lose so we’ll take the points and get home to prepare for our next game against the same opponents”.
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