Telford Tigers undone in semi-final first leg

Tigers had qualified for the semi final by finishing top of the cup table and were able to have the pick of their semi final opponent. Tigers picked Swindon with Hull Pirates taking on Peterborough Phantoms in the other semi final.

Tigers sat top of the league and had beaten their Wiltshire opponents in their previous three meetings this season.

Tigers started the game without the services of Jonathan Weaver, Nick Oliver and the suspended Andy McKinney, but were able to ice Dan Mitchell and Ollie Lord who had returned from playing for Great Britain’s U20 silver medal winning team.

Brad Day started in goal for Telford, with Renny Marr in goal for Swindon.

Tigers started the game in very poor fashion and almost conceded with the opening attack of the evening.

Day made a terrific save which was the shape of things to come. Tigers lacklustre start cost them dear when they conceded a goal in the second minute.

Toms Rutkis was given far too much time and space to fire a shot which went over Day’s glove to give Swindon the lead.

Things got worse shortly after when Edgars Bebris was allowed to follow up his own shot unopposed and shoot the puck into the the roof of the net.

Tigers finally mustered an attack when Swindon’s Neil Liddiard took a tripping penalty giving Tigers a much needed power play. Brandon Whistle sent a perfect pass across the ice to Jason Silverthorn who fired a wrist shot past Marr in the Swindon goal to get Tigers on the scoreboard.

Despite the goal, Tigers were still under the cosh and Swindon looked dangerous with every attack, Tyler Plews hitting the cross bar with a slap shot and Sam Bullas being denied by a terrific Day pad save.

Swindon player-coach, Aaron Nell, was next to be denied by Day, with the Tigers’ net minder making a great save once again.

But Day could do nothing with Nell’s next shot which flew past him whilst Swindon were on a power play after Corey Goodison had taken a hooking call. Nell’s shot beat Day who was unsighted, to give Swindon a 3-1 lead which they held at the end of a disappointing first period.

Tigers started the second period in much better fashion, with Ricky Plant going close early on and Ross Kennedy hitting a slap shot that Marr parried.

As the period progressed Tigers performance improved considerably.

In the 31st minute,Tigers scored their second goal. Silverthorn did well to keep the puck in the Swindon offensive zone and sent a pass across the circles for Joe Aston, who buried the puck past Marr with a perfect one time wrist shot.

Tigers piled the pressure on and a Whistle shot hit Marr and bounced onto the top of the net but Marr reacted well to prevent it from being put back in play.

Tigers levelled the game three minutes from the end of the period with a goal from Dominik Florian. The Tigers’ forward hit a shot from distance which deflected off Neil Liddiard’s stick, went through the legs of Marr and into the net to make it 3-3.

Early in the third period Swindon regained the lead when Florian was serving a hooking penalty. Max Birbraer beating Day with a wrist shot.

Tigers then conceded again shortly after with a poor goal. Sam Bullas managed to out-work two Tigers defenders and beat Day with a shot that trickled into the goal.

Just when the game was getting out of reach, Tigers pulled a goal back, Brandon Whistle scoring with a shot from the slot that deceived Marr.

Once again Tigers conceded two quick goals which gave a massive advantage to Swindon. Tyler Vankleef scored with ease when he was presented the puck in front of goal and shortly after Rutkis fought his way to the net and slipped the puck between Day’s legs to score a seventh goal for Swindon.

Tigers ended the game three goals behind on aggregate and with a massive job on their hands to turn the tie around. The second leg is at Telford on the 29th January.