Perfect Telford keep up 100 percent Spring Cup record
Telford Tigers completed their third weekend double from three by thrashing Swindon Wildcats for a second time on Sunday.
Twenty-four hours after winning 9-2 in Wiltshire, the Tigers backed it up with a 7-2 triumph on their home ice.
After the game, head coach Tom Watkins said: “It was a much closer game than the scoreline suggests.
“We knew Swindon would come at us hard and up their game, so when we ended the first period with a two-goal advantage, I was pleased as I felt they put us under a lot of pressure.
“The game changed with the match penalty and got them back to one goal, but a fantastic solo goal from David Clements on the five-on-three penalty kill really changed the game and restored our two-goal lead.
“It certainly put the momentum back on our side and then the game swung in our favour further with some quick goals. It has been a very pleasing weekend.”
Swindon were clearly fired up from the first whistle and Telford netminder Brad Day was called into action numerous times to keep the scores level, including a terrific save from Chris Jones.
But as with the previous game between the two teams, it was Tigers who opened the scoring.
Captain Jason Silverthorn won the puck on the Swindon blue line and sent a pass through to the unmarked Ross Venus, who had time to fire a wrist shot low past Renny Marr.
The game was very physical with both teams taking every opportunity to get hits in and the officials having to keep a close eye on proceedings to ensure it didn’t get out of hand.
Swindon’s Jones was called for hooking midway through the period, giving Tigers their first power play opportunity and David Clements fired a slap shot on goal that Silverthorn tipped through Marr’s legs.
Just 44 seconds into the second period, Tigers added a third – a well-worked passing play between Venus and Ricky Plant left Silverthorn unmarked in the slot and able to shoot in off the crossbar.
Swindon managed to get on the scoresheet with a power play goal and early in the third period Jordan Kelsall scored to reduce Tigers’ lead to one.
But a superb break saw Clements skate the length of the ice and fire a back-handed shot over Marr’s pads – with the Tigers then taking control as Kieran Brown, Scott McKenzie and Austin Mitchell-King completing the scoring to maintain Telford’s perfect start to the Spring Cup.
