Autocraft Telford Tigers returned to home ice after a much needed win on the road against Berkshire Bees the previous day that kept them in touch with Solway who stood four points ahead of Tigers in the final play off place in the league standings.
Tigers have a poor record against Swindon over the last couple of seasons and had lost all the games they have played against them so far this season.
Tigers started the game well and the first period was close. The difference between the sides was that Swindon were more clinical with their finishing. Swindon scored on their first power play chance of the game. With Joe Aston in the penalty box for holding, Tomasz Malasinski scored with a fierce shot from the top of the right circle that went in off the bar.
Swindon doubled the lead when Malasinski finished off a breakaway with a shot from close range.
Tigers halved the deficit early in the second period. David Thomson found the unmarked Scott McKenzie with a well placed pass, McKenzie sent a low shot past Renny Marr in the Swindon goal to give Tigers hope.
Swindon scored another power play goal to regain a two goal lead. A shot from Ed Bradley went over Brad Day’s blocker and into the net to stall any hopes of a Telford comeback.
Swindon showed some quality passing to create a fourth goal. Glenn Billing and Ryan Wells combined to give Jake Bricknell an opportunity in front of goal. Bricknell scoring with Day having no chance to make a save.
Bricknell thought he had scored again when his shot hit the cross bar and then the post and bounced out with Bricknell remonstrating with the officials that the puck had hit the net but the “goal” was not awarded.
At the start of the third period Swindon scored again when Dylan Lipsey finished off a Swindon break away for their fifth goal.
Chris Jones added a sixth goal for the visitors but Telford hit straight back with a consolation goal from Harry Ferguson who scored after good work by Thomson sent him in on goal.
Swindon had the final say on the scoreboard with a goal from Balint Pakozdi who shot through Day’s legs to seal a miserable evening for the home side.
Final Score: Autocraft Telford Tigers 2 Swindon Wildcats 7.
Scorers: Scott McKenzie and Harry Ferguson.
Man of the match: Louie Newell.
After the game Head Coach Tom Watkins, commented, “It was a frustrating evening for us, but I thought we played to a good level, we worked tirelessly, which I think caught up with us in the third period after a big push last night where we picked up a big win on the road.
Swindon have a very talented deep roster, so many threats five on five, the best defensive core in the league, big bodies and despite our best efforts that quality showed in the end. They were very clinical with their finishing and we knew they had the threat of the best power play in the league which we didn’t manage to contain.
At the end of the second period we came off feeling like we haven’t done much wrong but are down 4-1.
I felt we emptied the tanks tonight after a very hard fought win on the road to the Bees last night, which seems to have gone unnoticed. If we want to make the playoffs those are the pressure games for us, the must wins, not tonight but that being said we gave it everything we had. We have two forwards playing on defense right now due to injuries and then we lose Rhodes (Mitchell-King) during the game to leave us another defender down. Sometimes you have to say that you were beaten by a stronger team. I know the players and myself leave the rink feeling pretty despondent this evening despite the fact that we didn’t do a lot wrong.”
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