Tigers' barren start to 2009

GM Telford Tigers' hopes of a dream start to 2009 were quashed by a combination of mechanical and player failure.

The Tigers had hoped for a four-point haul from their opening two matches of the New Year, but instead had to settle for none.

First their match at Romford had to be cancelled after the Tigers' team bus broke down on the M1.

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A replacement was summoned but didn't arrive in time so, after a lengthy delay, the players and supporters made their way home.

The club us now liaising with the English Premier League and Romford to try and rearrange the fixture.

Roles were almost reversed when Wightlink were delayed getting to Shropshire on Sunday.

Although Tigers arranged a later face-off, the Raiders had to go into the first period with just 11 players.

Defenceman Daniel Croft was first to score for Telford, with a big strike at 11:25 assisted by Daniel Mackriel and Gareth Owen.

Marek Hornak made it 2-0 less than a minute later, finishing the work of Jason Cassells and Andre Niec, newly-returned from the Czech Republic.

Sam Zajac showed his passion for his team as he fought Raiders' Bradley Watchorn – despite the visitor's height advantage – and the young man of the match stretched Tigers' lead with a huge slapshot goal from the blue line early in the second period.

But the extra men arriving gave Wightlink renewed energy, and they came back with two goals to make it 3-2.

James Knight scored at 41:52, aided by Tom Carlon and Niec, but Wightlink responded with two quick goals to equalise, showing the form that helped them beat Sheffield Scimitars the night before.

A powerplay goal at 54:15 put the visitors ahead for the first time in the game and, although Jason Cassells brought it back to 5-5 a minute later, a further powerplay goal at 58:15 gave Wightlink the victory and lifted them off the foot of the table, going above Romford.