Frustration grows for Osman and Hull Pirates

Hull Pirates put pressure on the Telford goal during Saturday's 9-0 home defeat. Picture: Arthur Foster.

A 9-0 hammering at home by Telford Tigers was followed by a 7-2 defeat on the road at Peterborough Phantoms.

It extended the club’s losing streak to six games and, after Manchester Phoenix’s win over bottom club Bracknell, leaves them 14 points adrift of the play-off places.

“I thought the effort was better against Peterborough than on Saturday against Telford,” said Osman on Sunday night.

Hull's Tommi Laine, left, battles for possession against Telford. Picture: Arthur Foster.

“We’re going to have those nights once in a while (against Telford). It wasn’t acceptable and I’m not going to say it is but, at the same time, we just have to make sure we move forward from it.

“The guys are not happy with losing and it is very frustrating right now.”

Hull were down to just 12 out-skaters at Peterborough, a problem Osman admits isn’t helping his team’s cause.

“At the minute, we are very short on bodies and numbers,” he added.

Hull's Nathan Salem gets in a shot on Telford's Thomas Murdy. Picture: Arthur Foster.

“We didn’t have a lot of time to build a team for this season and we’ve had to make changes through the season because we didn’t get it right the first time, but I’m going to give the guys credit for the effort they are putting in.

“We are improving but, at the same time, so are the other teams.”

Having being edged out 3-2 in Telford the previous weekend, hopes were high that Hull could pick up some points against the same opponents at home on Saturday.

But goals from former Hull Stingrays’ forward Jason Silverthorn and Macauley Heywood gave the visitors a 2-0 lead by the end of the first period.

It was in the middle section that the real damage was done, however, when Max Birbraer (2), Richard Plant and Joe Miller all found a way past Martins Raitums without reply.

It remained 6-0 until the last five minutes of the game, replacement goalie Ashley Smith keeping the visitors at bay until Silverthorn and Miller each grabbed their second on the night, with Peter Szabo completing the rout in the last minute.

Having been beaten so comprehensively, a trip to title-chasing Peterborough Phantoms was perhaps the last thing Dominic Osman’s short-benched team needed.

Icing with only four defencemen, Hull gave themselves a mountain to climb when going 3-0 behind to goals from Will Weldon, James White and Craig Scott, before Sam Towner responded at 16.58.

Peterborough restored their three-goal advantage through Milan Baranyk at 31.19 and ran away with the game and the two points with third period strikes from Ales Padelek, Darius Pliskauskas and Baranyk. Player-coach Osman scored a late consolation for the visitors.