Telford Tigers seal play-off finals spot with spectacular win
Telford Tigers sealed their place at next weekend’s play-off finals tournament with an 8-0 drubbing of Sheffield Steeldogs last night.
Victory at Telford Ice Rink means they finished second in Group A, two points ahead of Peterborough Phantoms.
The Tigers, who lost 5-2 at Peterborough on Saturday, will face Basingtoke Bison in the second semi-final at Coventry’s Skydome next Saturday afternoon.
Last night’s encounter saw Telford take the lead after just five minutes thanks to a strike from defenceman Jonathan Weaver.
Doug Clarkson doubled that advantage on 16 minutes, before Jason Silverthorn added a third just seconds later.
And the hosts ended the session with a 4-0 lead, courtesy of a Gareth O’Flaherty strike on 18 minutes.
The second period started with a Lubomir Korhon goal on 23 minutes, while Clarkson collected his second of the game just moments later.
Clarkson – who announced his retirement at the end of the season over the weekend – then secured his hat-trick just before the interval.
The 6ft, 5in star added his fourth goal of the night – and Telford’s eighth – at the start of the final period.
The winners of Telford’s semi-final next Saturday will face either Milton Keynes Lightning or Guildford Flames on Sunday afternoon in the EPL play-off final.
