Telford Tigers 2 MK Lightning 6

The omens couldn't have been clearer for Tigers at the weekend - they were facing the reigning champions on Halloween and with only 13 skaters.

So it was little surprise that Milton Keynes Lightning ran out 6-2 winners on Sunday night at the Ice Rink.

But Telford showed they still had a trick or two up their sleeves and treated their fans to a gutsy performance right to the final buzzer.

Early pressure from the visitors resulted in a powerplay goal within three minutes but Tigers responded with a cracking strike of their own, Joe Henry putting the puck into the top corner at 8:20, assisted by Marek Hornak and Scott McKenzie on the powerplay.

Lightning's spot on passing and positional play cost Telford three unanswered goals in the second period, two of them from former Tiger Gary Clarke.

But the home side battled on, even after Milton Keynes took the score to 6-1.

And when Luke Brittle fired home his debut Tigers goal at 58:33, supported by Scott McKenzie and Tom Watkins, the supporters' celebrations were as enthusiastic as if the team had just won the game.

Afterwards player-coach Tom Watkins said: "It was an awkward game. We lost Andrejs this weekend to an eye infection, although he should be back for next week.

"And of course we are short with Ash Stanton still being out and we released Chris in the week, so that makes it difficult.

"We came in with five defence and eight bodies and we played great in the first period.

"We took a few too many silly penalties, myself included, but that comes a little bit from being fatigued during the game.

"It's just a shame we can't sustain the pressure down low and pucks seemed to come back easy which is quite frustrating."

However, he was encouraged by the late goal from Brittle, demonstrating the never-say-die attitude of his team.

"That'll happen when you've got young guys in the team, providing heads don't drop. I know I get the work ethic out of the guys.

"Sometimes I feel we have to work a little bit smarter .

"If we can sit back and be a little more patient at their blue line, let them come into our trap hopefully we can turn a few more pucks over. But that's just guys being really keen and wanting to work hard all the time."

By CAROLINE GARBETT