"Every game is a play-off game for us now," declares Telford Tigers coach

The Tigers went down 7-4 at Hull Seahawks on Sunday night to leave themselves 10th in the table - two places shy of the play-off positions.

Silverthorn led the team in the absence of head coach Tom Watkins - who was away with Great Britain Under-20s - and knows each game is increasing in importance.

The Tigers legend said: “I was really disappointed about how we started the game, having a one-game weekend and knowing the teams around us are winning games.

"We knew the importance of the game and simply didn’t compete. When you overplay and turn pucks over against a team with the quality of the Seahawks, you’re going to be punished and that’s what happened.

"Every game is a play-off game for us with the current league position and we need to execute better to give us any chance.”

With no game on Saturday this week, Tigers had dropped to 10th in the NIHL National League following victory for Bristol Pitbulls over Peterborough Phantoms.

And after making a slow start to their game in Hull, never looked like clawing back that deficit.

Vladimir Luka was not available to play, so Silverthorn was able to ice as the team’s third import, while Tigers were also without Jake Price, Edgars Landsbergs and Joe Aston.

The home side dominated the early stages and took a four-goal lead.

A shot from the blue line by Bobby Chamberlain was tipped past Brad Day by Emil Svec for the opening goal, before Svec doubled his tally with a shot from the slot.

Tigers lost their poise defensively and conceded two goals in eight seconds - a turnover led to Jason Hewitt scoring on the rebound, which was immediately followed by a goal from Chamberlain after Svec had intercepted a defensive pass and found the unmarked Chamberlain, who shot low past Day.

Early in the second period, Hull had a fifth goal when Jonny Corneil shot through Day’s legs to put the home side firmly in control of the game.

But Telford staged a comeback after the fifth Hull goal.

First, James Smith hit a terrific shot into the top left corner of the Hull net and was closely followed by a breakaway goal scored by Fin Howells.

Scott McKenzie almost added a third with a delayed penalty goal after being hauled down when in on goal, but McKenzie was able to force the puck into the net.

The comeback was stalled in the final minute of the second period as Hull added a sixth goal when Svec scored with a tap-in to complete his hat-trick.

Tigers pushed hard to get back into the game and were given hope with 10 minutes left to play when a fierce shot by Harry Ferguson from the left circle flew into the net to narrow the deficit.

But Hull sealed the game five minutes from the buzzer with a goal from Lee Bonner.