Tigers coach Tom Watkins praised his players’ work ethic after watching them slip to their first defeat in six games against Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday night.
Photo credit to Tom Scott
A short-benched Telford side – featuring just 13 fit outskaters – looked to be on target for victory against the Phantoms, before the hosts scored three times in the final period to win 3-1.
But they remain eight points clear at the top of the English Premier League – although second-placed Milton Keynes Lightning now have three games in hand.
Watkins, who has steered his men to nine wins in the last eleven games, said: “After the everything that has happened over with the club, for the guys to pick up the wins they have is just exceptional.
“It is an absolute testament to the commitment and work ethic of these guys and I can’t fault it at all.
“I thought we were unlucky and shouldn’t have walked out of here with a loss tonight. The guys were resilient for long parts of the game and defensively excellent.
“The support from the fans has also been fantastic, especially this weekend. They were here in great numbers tonight and last night, it was brilliant to see so many fans support the teddy toss.”
The first period saw Telford take control early on, with their first goal of the night coming after just sixty seconds.
Corey McEwen was on target from close range, picking up a rebound from Danny Rose’s shot from the blue line.
The Tigers remained on top for the rest of the session, and restricted the hosts to few quality shots on goal.
The second session turned into a defensive masterclass from the Tigers, as they withstood a succession of Peterborough powerplays.
McEwen almost doubled Telford’s lead on 27 minutes, when he missed a rebound off his own shot when bearing down on goal.
And following penalties to Sam Zajac and Matty Davies, the visitors successfully defended a five-on-three powerplay with five minutes of the session remaining.
The final period saw Peterborough score within ten seconds of the restart through Wahebe Darge, when the puck became stuck in water behind Sam Gospel’s goal.
They then took the lead on 53 minutes with a strike from Ales Padelek.
Telford pressed for an equaliser, but it was the Phantoms who sealed victory with a second goal by Padelek on 53 minutes.
Watkins added: “Peterborough got a really lucky goal at the start of the third and then it was just difficult to play in that period.
“I looked down the bench at one point and we had six forwards and four defence, so it made it tough.”
Telford now have a break over Christmas, ahead of their next game on December 27th – a trip to face Manchester Phoenix.
“The guys have got some time off now and they’ve been battling short,” Watkins said.
“I said we need to get some bodies in. Thankfully we came through tonight without injuries and that has been a big part of the last six or seven games.
“The character is what has got us there. These guys want to win and I can’t fault that at all.”
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