Tigers prove too strong for Racers again

Having won 9-1 against the Racers in Edinburgh last Sunday, the Tigers followed up with a 9-4 triumph on home ice on Saturday.

The hosts were without a number of key players for the clash, with the injured Jason Silverthorn, Warren Tait and Denis Bell among those missing.

But it was Tigers who made a fast start as they opened the scoring in the second minute. Doug Clarkson’s pass from behind the goal found the unmarked Andy McKinney and he fired through the legs of Murrayfield netminder Craig Mallinson.

Tigers quickly added a second when Mallinson lost his stick and was caught out of position attempting to retrieve it, allowing Scott McKenzie to win possession of the puck and pass to Adam Taylor, who found the net from close range.

Murrayfield responded with a goal from Aaron Robertson to reduce the deficit.

But the Tigers hit back with a third goal while on the power play. Doug Clarkson and Ricky Plant combined to allow Jack Watkins to tap in from close range at the second attempt.

Murrayfield then struck again when Kyle Murray sent Martin Cingel clear on a break away to score with an excellent finish.

Tigers finished the period short handed after Jonathan Weaver and Jordan Stokes were given penalties, putting Murrayfield on a five on three power play.

But it was Tigers who netted next score. Just as they returned to four skaters, Danny Rose sent a pass to McKenzie who had time to find out the bottom corner to make it 4-2 lead at the end of the first period.

Tigers started the second session in the same vein with Adam Taylor hitting the post early on.

It was no surprise when Tigers added a fifth goal. Clarkson showed great skill to find the unmarked Jordan Stokes in the left circle and his shot hit Mallinson on the shoulder on the way into the net.

Clarkson then tapped in a McKenzie pass for the sixth goal before Murrayfield responded through John Dolan to make it 6-3.

Brodie Jesson than had a shot cleared off the line as Tigers ended the period in dominant fashion.

The third period started with Tigers scoring their seventh and eighth goals in quick succession.

McKenzie bagged his second of the game with a wrist shot that went in off the cross bar and McKinney struck again with a back-handed shot after neat stick handling got him clear of his marker.

Tigers’ final goal came from Joe Aston after unselfish play by Plant left him with an open goal to shoot into.

Murrayfield had the final say on the scoresheet with a strike from Daniel Abercrombie.

to end the game with Tigers being the comfortable winners.

Final Score

Hexagon Telford Tigers 9 Murrayfield Racers 4.

Scorers: Andy McKinney (2), Scott McKenzie (2), Adam Taylor, Doug Clarkson, Jack Watkins, Jordan Stokes and Joe Aston.

Man of the Match: Liam Preece.

But despite the win, Tigers coach Tom Watkins wasn’t entirely happy with his side’s display.

“I think we were probably expected to win and, with that, our mentality was poor,” he said. “We tried to do too much because we had the time and space to do so. Murrayfield worked hard, played with commitment and got solid goaltending again.

“For two periods, it was close.”

If you think that in the first period it was 3-2 in our favour, we took two quick penalties, so are left killing a five on three. In that situation, the game could be different if they score.

We tried to play the third period with our minds looking ahead to what will be a difficult game tomorrow on the road in Billingham, making sure we played with good habits.”

Also missing were U18 players Jed Moreland, Henry Adams and Dan Mitchell.