Telford Tigers extend lead at top after victory over Milton Keynes Lightning

Victory at Telford Ice Rink means the Tigers are three points clear at the top of the English Premier League, as the front-runners begin to take shape.

Sunday's game followed a similarly dramatic 5-4 win in Sheffield on Saturday, giving Telford their third four-point weekend of the season.

And Watkins believes his men were rewarded for a fine physical display against Milton Keynes.

He said: "It was nice to see us be physical as we didn't really do that at all on Sheffield on Saturday.

"It's all about keeping a simple process and giving some keys for the guys to follow. Being physical and blocking shots is an absolute must for us.

"It was exciting, fun to watch and quite similar to the game we played against them in Milton Keynes a couple of weeks ago.

"There was lots of intensity from both sides, not much ice for guys to play in and I am sure it was good to watch."

The game started with neither side troubling the scorers in the first period, before Sam Oakford opened the scoring for Telford at the halfway point of the game.

Matty Davies extended that advantage on 38 minutes, but Milton Keynes hit back before the break.

Tigers captain Jason Silverthorn made it 3-1 at the start of the final session, although the Lightning hit back just moments later.

With time running out, the visitors pulled their netminder in favour of an extra forward in the search for an equaliser.

But Telford held on to give themselves their first regular time victory in four games.

Watkins added: "I like the look of the line with Ricky Plant, Joe Miller and Phil Hill on. I think the average age is about 35, but as a group they know how to play.

"Hilly and Joe won a lot of board battles, which of course is always key in these sort of games."

Watkins said his side were lucky to return from Yorkshire with two points.

The county men had to wait until a late penalty shoot-out to seal victory at Ice Sheffield, after a determined Steeldogs outfit staged a dramatic comeback to force overtime.

But Watkins believes his side should have secured the win before the end of regular time.

He said: "I think we were very close to losing that game. You would like to think we would outwork and outperform a team that is short-benched."

Telford started the game on top and it was against the run of play that Sheffield took the lead on six minutes through Arnoldas Bosas.

Despite the Tigers again dominating proceedings after the break, the hosts doubled their advantage midway through the second session, again thanks to Bosas. It took until the closing moments of the period for Telford to trouble the scorers, firstly through Doug Clarkson's fine tip-in on 38 minutes.

Captain Jason Silverthorn was on target just moments later to haul his side level at the second interval, as the Tigers began to take control.

Sheffield regained the lead through Bosas at the start of the final period, only for Satek to hit back for Telford almost straight away.

The visitors found themselves in front just seconds later, thanks to Milan Kolena – but once again they conceded a late goal to enter overtime.

And despite losing Matty Davies to minor penalties twice in overtime, the Tigers survived to secure victory after penalty shots – with Davies scoring the final penalty.