Pitbulls Fall Short In Overtime To Tigers

By Xanthe Boursier-Gazzard

The Bristol Drive North Pitbulls fell short in overtime to the Telford Tigers in the Pound last night following an end-to-end sixty minutes of hockey that saw both teams battle it out for the points.

The home side were the ones to open the scoring in the first period as Harry Ferguson headed to the penalty box to sit a two-minute tripping call, giving the Pitbulls the man advantage, allowing Tanner Butler to cut past Brad Day to light the lamp. Minutes later, Joseph Aston equalised just before David Thomson had the opportunity to give the visitors the lead on the power play. The home team were able to level the scoreline once again, however, before the first period could come to an end, as Jake Bricknell received the pass from Mason Lipsey to eradicate the one-goal deficit.

Just under a minute into the second period, Danny Rose was able to restore the lead for the Tigers. Despite this, the visitors were struck with a hooking penalty on Louie Newell, which gave Bricknell the opportunity to chase the scoreline once again and put the home team back on par with the Tigers, firing a shot past Day. Penalties were called for both teams in the following few minutes, with Eric Henderson sitting two for tripping as well as Jay King receiving a hooking penalty not long after, which was unable to stop the Pitbulls as Butler got the breakaway, scoring shorthanded and putting the Pitbulls ahead before the final period.

Chances came from Aston for the visitors and both John Dunbar and Mason Lipsey for the home side in the final period; however, it wasn’t long before Scott McKenzie could tie the game up at 4-4, bringing the game to overtime after three periods of scoreline chasing for both teams.

Overtime was quickly underway, and it didn’t take long for Rose to reach the back of the net, giving the Tigers the two points for the evening.

Man of the Match for the visitors went to Scott McKenzie and to shorthanded scoring defenceman Tanner Butler for your Bristol Pitbulls.