Tom Watkins calls on Telford Tigers not to dwell on EPL play-off final defeat
Telford Tigers coach Tom Watkins has told his men not to dwell on the 7-2 defeat to Milton Keynes Lighting in the EPL play-off final.
Defeat at Coventry’s Skydome Arena last night denied Telford the double after they won the EPL league title in March, writes James Shaw.
It brings the curtain down on an otherwise successful season for the side, following financial struggles earlier in the campaign.
Telford struggled to contain Milton Keynes in the first period and then conceded a string of breakaway goals as they looked for a way back into the game.
Watkins, who will now begin planning his squad next season, said: “I tried to tell the boys, but I’m sure they weren’t listening, that they shouldn’t dwell on the result.
“We won the league, so there has been much more to our season than that performance. It was one of those unfortunate things that happens in sport, and we weren’t good enough.”
Telford were behind after just six minutes when Lightning forward Blaz Emersic netted.
Craig Scott increased Milton Keynes’ lead and it was 3-0 on on 24 minutes courtesy of Leigh Jamieson’s long-range effort.
Milton Keynes added fourth on 35 minutes, when they took advantage of a powerplay to score through Lewis Hook.
Telford pressed later in the period, but were caught out on 38 minutes when Bakrlik made the score 5-0.
It wasn’t until the 41st minute that the Tigers opened their account, thanks to Doug Clarkson’s shot. But Bakrlik hit back for Milton Keynes just moments later.
The Tigers added a second powerplay goal of the night at the midway point of the period through Sam Zajac only for Craig Scott to wrap up the scoring for Lightning.
“We didn’t deserve to win,” Watkins added. “It was one of those nights when whatever happened, we made mistakes and didn’t get the bounces.
“Milton Keynes earned the win.”
Yesterday’s game was played in front of a capacity 3,000 crowd at the Skydome, and Watkins paid tribute to a sizeable travelling support from Telford.
He said: “Our fans have been great all season and it is hard to take when you play and don’t win.
“But when you play and struggle like we did, that is probably one of three times we have done that this season.
“To do it in a cup final is heartbreaking.”
Telford reached the final courtesy of a 3-2 win over Basingstoke Bison in Saturday’s semi-final at Coventry.
Clarkson netted twice and Adams Jones once as Tigers twice came from behind to win.
Lightning had eased to a 7-3 success against Guilford Flames in the first last-four clash.
