Another difficult night for Telford Tigers

The Bison are below the Tigers in the the NIHL National League standings, but came away with a 5-3 triumph in Shropshire.

And head coach Tom Watkins was left to bemoan another difficult match for his side.

“Another night another set of obstacles to try to overcome,” he said. “We were short of players anyway, but then having to continually juggle the lines I thought the players gave everything they had this evening.

“We didn’t get the result we all are working so hard for, but the performance was there, the desire was there.

“We got a good fast start, but didn’t have the best first period.

“Despite missing so many key players for this game, I thought we were the better team during the second and third period.

“We created so many Grade A scoring chances, which I think was ultimately the difference in changing the game in our favour.”

Tigers started the game without Jonathan Weaver, Ricky Plant, Nick Oliver, Deakan Fielder and Lucas Price, but added Charlie Webb and Liam Bartholomew to the line-up.

Telford made the perfect start to the contest with a goal on their first attack. A shot from the blue line by Corey Goodison was tipped past Jordan Lawday in the Bison goal by Scott McKenzie after just 17 seconds.

McKenzie was then sent to the penalty box along with Basingstoke’s Marcus Mitchell for roughing.

While both teams were a man down, Bison equalised. Zack Milton was unmarked in front of goal and shot into the roof of the net.

Midway through the period, Rhodes Mitchell-King retaliated to a cross check from a Bison player with a cross check of his own, but only the Tigers player’s infraction was called.

Frustratingly for Telford, Bison scored almost immediately on the subsequent power play, Gael Lubwele netting from close range to put Basingstoke ahead – a lead they held at the end of the first period.

Referees Poulton and Williams were frustrating the home crowd by not calling a number of penalties against Bison players, but then calling everything against Telford.

Sam Watkins was boarded behind the goal, but nothing was called. Then an almost identical check up the other end was called against Tigers’ Jake Price, giving Basingstoke another power play.

Basingstoke took advantage of the extra attacker and scored their third goal of the game. Milton gained the offensive zone far too easily and then sent a pass across the slot to Edgars Landsbergs, who shot into the open net.

Tigers also lost captain Jason Silverthorn through injury, but they fought back and gave themselves hope in the latter stages of the second period. Thomas Banner was called for interference and finally Tigers had a power play of their own and pulled a goal back.

Mitchell-King found McKenzie in space in the right circle and the Tigers forward shot low past Lawday to bring Telford within a goal of the Bison lead.

Fin Howells missed a glorious chance at the start of the third period, shooting over with the goal at his mercy. McKenzie’s shot then rang off the crossbar as Tigers piled pressure on the Bison goal, but once again Bison broke away and scored, Aiden Doughty tapping in from close range.

Tigers had a power play when Bison were caught with too many men on the ice.

Telford could not score and as the penalty ended Liam Morris was sent on a breakaway, which he finished with a low shot to end any hopes of a Telford comeback.

A late consolation goal from Howells could not put a gloss on the scoreboard as Tigers’ poor run of form continued.