Telford Tigers left ruing start in Swindon defeat

The first of their latest back-to-back Autumn Cup games saw the visitors go down 6-4.

Tigers’ coach Tom Watkins had called on the team to get something out of the double-header, having seen his side already lose their previous two cup games to Peterborough. But with key players Jonathan Weaver and Jack Watkins sidelined, it was always going to be a tough – especially when the visitors conceded their first five goals without reply.

Watkins said: “We gave ourselves a mountain to climb after giving up five goals in the first period.

“We didn’t look interested, we were second to pucks, lost battles and gave away a ton of time and space, even when we had the opportunity to outnumber and separate Swindon players.

“There was a big turnaround in our desire to compete through the second and third periods but, ultimately, it was too little too late.”

The first period was one to forget as the Tigers – who were also supporting the #wearredforzac campaign during the match – went behind in the eighth minute when Floyd Taylor scored.

Successive goals soon followed from Loris Taylor and Adam Harding to put Swindon 3-0 ahead. And when Tigers failed to capitalise on a power play in the 13th minute, the Wildcats moved even further ahead with Sam Jones scoring a short-handed goal.

Denis Bell replaced starting net minder Tom Hovell for the Tigers but it made no difference as Swindon added their fifth through Harding during the period of complete domination.

Tigers finally started to get into the game in the second period and pulled one back with three minutes played, Jason Silverthorn scoring from Andy McKinney’s pass.

A minute later, Silverthorn returned the favour by setting up McKinney to cut the lead to three. Tigers went close again a couple of times but ended the period trailing 5-2. The home side saw their lead cut further in the 44th minute when Silverthorn scored his second goal of the night, with McKinney again supplying the pass.

Tigers went into the last 10 minutes chasing the game and got caught in the 52nd minute when Jones set up former Tigers’ player Max Birbraer for Swindon’s sixth goal.

The visitors still had time to pull another back in the 56th minute, Joe Aston scoring from Ricky Plant’s pass.

With two minutes left, Tigers pulled net minder Bell out, to gain an extra attacker. But they could not score the two goals needed, falling for to their third Autumn Cup loss of the season.