Telford Tigers left frustrated after shipping seven to play-off rivals

Tigers were dealt a damaging defeat in the race for the NIHL play-offs as main rivals Solway punished their visitors with some ruthless finishing.

Watkins' men still occupy the final play-off place in eighth but Solway are now just one point behind and boast a game in hand on their rivals south of the border.

Telford's makeshift defence proved very accommodating over the last week having shipped 12 goals in a midway thrashing by Peterborough Phantoms and seven against the Sharks - though head coach Watkins was left scratching his head given his side were not shy in getting shots away.

"I’ll be keen to watch the game back," Watkins said. "We created a number of very good chances and out shot Solway by 13 shots. I think we hit the post or crossbar three or four times but ultimately goals change games and Solway scored at timely moments.

"They scored on their power play where we failed to capitalise on our opportunities."

Availability has proven an issue for Tigers in recent games and issues are showing few signs of improving.

"It’s frustrating that we played well enough with what we have available right now to get something from the game," the head coach added. "We lost another couple of players during the game and we are currently without over half of our defensive core.

"At this time of the year we need everyone on our roster playing, but we predominantly played with four defenders, two of which are forwards.”

Telford were guilty of allowing their hosts to score in bursts and take the game away from Tigers.

A slow start was costly as Liam Danskin and Callum Boyd made it 2-0 after five minutes.

Tigers registered in the first period as Eric Henderson fired in after good work Devon Skoleski.

But the clash got away from them just a few minutes into the second period as Solway went 4-1 ahead thanks to two goals in a minute by Kyle Carruth and Caly Robertson.

Tigers responded well with two quickfire goals of their own. First star man David Thomson scored with a low shot before Scott McKenzie turned a rebound home after Rhodes Mitchell-King was denied.

A tripping penalty from Tigers' Tom Byrne proved costly early in the third period as Kell Beattie took advantage for 5-3. John Dunbar added a sixth shortly afterwards.

Telford's Canada import Thomson scored a wonderful solo goal to give hope with nine minutes left but Boyd found the empty net for a seventh in the dying seconds.