Telford Tigers 1 took a midweek trip to Wiltshire in the NIHL National Cup looking to get back to winning ways. Tigers had lost the previous 3 games in the Autumn Cup and had forfeited the 8-2 NIHL league victory over Blackburn Hawks on Sunday, after failing to have the required non-playing Level 2 coach in charge of the bench for the game, resulting in Blackburn being awarded a 5-0 win. Tigers stood 2nd in the cup table after beating Basingstoke twice earlier this season.
Tigers were without the suspended Jonathan Weaver and also Tom Watkins, who was serving the 1st game of a 2 game ban for the infraction against Blackburn.
In an even first period it was Tigers who struck first in the 19th minute with Joe Miller getting the goal after a pass from Ricky Plant. But just 40 seconds later, Swindon equalised through Floyd Taylor, leaving the sides tied at the end of the period.
The second period started badly with a goal in the 23rd minute from Swindon player coach Aaron Nell. Tigers responded in the 33rd minute with a power play goal from Warren Tait to level the game at 2-2. Swindon then went ahead through a power play goal of their own from ex-Tigers player Phil Hill to lead 3-2 at the end of the 2nd period.
In the third period Tigers scored after just 28 seconds when Plant fired home to level the scores at 3-3. However, it was Swindon who finished the game on top, with Chris Jones scoring the winner in the 55th minute. Tigers pulled net minder Dennis Bell in the last minute but could not make the extra attacker count.
Final Score Swindon Wildcats 4 Telford Tigers 3
Man of the match – Warren Tait
After the game coach Tom Watkins said, “I thought the guys were very unlucky not to get something from the game and deserved more. We competed and that’s the main thing. I can’t fault anybody tonight, we worked hard all night and kept it close.” Watkins added, “On another night a bounce might have gone our way.”
Telford Tigers 1 are next at home on Sunday against Hull Pirates with a 6pm face off. For ticket details and more information go towww.telfordtigers.net