Tigers end pre-season on a high
Telford Tigers fought back from defeat at the Swindon Wildcats to end their pre-season campaign on a high.
The Tigers had lost 5-2 in Swindon the night before, but delivered a 4-3 victory back in Shropshire on Sunday evening.
That left them with three wins from four 'challenge' games - ahead of the National League campaign starting this weekend
Head coach Tom Watkins said: “It was a very entertaining game, which I think had a bit of everything. It was important for us to start well after Saturday night’s loss. I thought we came out really well and played a very strong first period.
"The second period was intense and we took advantage in the first 10 minutes with Swindon finishing the period pinning us in our zone, putting us under a lot of pressure with the third period being tight once again.
"I thought we took a needless penalty that they capitalised on then they took advantage once again on the power play to make it a one goal game but I like our resilience after that and the way we battled extremely hard to get over the line.”
Tigers fell behind in the 10th minute when Chris Jones scored to put the visitors ahead. Late in the period the hosts were level, when James Smith scored his second goal of pre-season.
With Swindon’s Dylan Lipsey getting a tripping penalty in the final minute of the first period, Tigers would start the second period with a power play and a man advantage.
Fifty three seconds into the period, David Thomson scored to put Telford ahead with a powerful wrist shot from the slot.
Five minutes later, the lead was doubled when Eric Henderson scored for Telford with a shot from the left circle.
Thomson then grabbed his second of the game after collecting his own rebound and shooting past Ben Clarke-Leach in the Swindon goal.
Before the end of the period, Swindon pulled a goal back while on the power play through Tyler Watkins.
Another power play goal for the visitors four minutes into the third period cut the lead to one goal as Ed Bradley scored for Swindon.
Despite some pressure on the Tigers goal towards the end of the game, Telford held on to win the game.
