Telford Tigers restored their six-point lead at the top of the English Premier League with a 7-3 win over Hull Pirates on Saturday night.
Victory on Humberside, combined with defeat for second-placed Milton Keynes, means the Tigers are now three wins clear at the top of the standings.
An early strike from Telford after just five minutes of the first period set the tone for the evening, as the visitors restricted Hull to few quality chances.
Tigers head coach Tom Watkins, who watched his side lose 6-0 at the same rink just three weeks ago, said: “The big thing was that we had to be better defensively and that starts in the offensive zone, away from the puck.
“I don’t remember giving up an odd-man rush tonight, whereas the last time we must have given up about 27 of them.
“We were smart, took our chances at the right time and every time they got one we answered it back almost straight away.
“It was good to see Dougie get his hat-trick and there were some really good team performances from the boys.”
Telford took that early lead with a close-range goal from Doug Clarkson, following a pass from Sam Oakford behind the Hull net.
They doubled their advantage on 13 minutes, as Jonathan Weaver scored with a similar effort to Clarkson’s opener.
Watkins added: “Last time we came here, Hull scored after 30 seconds and they again got a breakaway on the first shift tonight.
“We have to play solid defensively, we’ll always get our chances and today we took them. It was good and it gave us that separation.”
The second period saw Hull score their first goal of the evening on 25 minutes, although the visitors hit back almost straight away with a fine backhanded strike from Milan Kolena.
Clarkson, meanwhile, added his second goal – and Telford’s fourth – at the halfway point of the game, following a pinpoint cross by Michal Satek.
And the Tigers ended the second session with a 5-1 lead, after Rick Plant took advantage of a Pirates defensive error to score on the breakaway on 35 minutes.
Hull again reduced Telford’s lead with their second goal of the night at the start of the final period, although Macaulay Heywood replied on the next shift.
And it was a similar scenario just a few minutes later, as the Pirates struck for the third time, only for the visitors to reply immediately with Clarkson’s hat-trick goal.
That effort sealed victory for the Tigers, following a difficult week off the ice for the club.
“I think the fact that we’ve still got a full team here says a lot about the team-spirit that we have,” Watkins said.
“It would be very easy for guys just to walk away right now, but again I tip my hat to them.
“Right now they’re doing their all to try and give those people that are interested in running the club an opportunity to run the club.”
The Tigers return to action tomorrow night (Sunday), when they host reigning EPL champions Basingstoke Bison at Telford Ice Rink (6pm).
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