MATTY DAVIES hailed the character of his Hull Seahawks team after staging a stunning fightback at Romford Raiders to clinch a crucial four-point weekend - and keep them firmly in the mix to make the NIHL National Cup semi-finals.

Cody Monds was the hero of the hour for the Seahawks, who found themselves trailing 2-0 with just over 10 minutes remaining through goals from Andrew Coxhead and Leo Bacallao.

Canadian import Monds halved the deficit with his first of the night at 49.44 before hauling his team level just under five minutes later.

When overtime arrived, the Seahawks gained the upper-hand when Raiders’ Tjay Anderson was sent to the penalty box on a boarding call.

The subsequent power play was 67 seconds in when Monds provided the winning touch, handing the Seahawks two vital points in the preliminary group stage of the National Cup.

“I’m so proud of the lads,” said Davies. “They showed massive resilience and there were a lot of moments in that game where we were struggling.

“I said to them after the second period, we've just got to will the puck in the net - and that's what it felt like we did.

“Huge character, great effort from everybody and a massive two points in the Cup as well. “We had to win (in Romford) and it just sets us up for a big weekend. It doesn't change a lot, because we still have to win.”

MAXIMUM RETURN: Finlay Ulrick (left) Cody Monds and Patrick brown celebrate a goal during Saturday's 8-5 win over Romford Raiders. Picture: Kim Elliott/Seahawks Media.

placeholder image — MAXIMUM RETURN: Finlay Ulrick (left) Cody Monds and Patrick brown celebrate a goal during Saturday's 8-5 win over Romford Raiders. Picture: Kim Elliott/Seahawks Media.

Leeds’ 7-1 win over Bristol Pitbulls gave them their eighth straight win and sixth on the bounce in terms of the Cup.

It leaves them fourth in the Cup standings, with just two points separating the top five teams.

Hull are fifth on the same points as Leeds, with the Knights ahead by virtue of having scored more goals in their eight games played so far.

Both teams currently have a plus-eight goal difference and will have a clearer indication of their chances of making the semi-finals when they finish off their respective Cup schedules this weekend.

BACK-HANDED DELIVERY: Owen Sobchak scores from a penalty shot in Sunday's 7-1 win over NIHL National strugglers Bristol Pitbulls. Picture: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

On Saturday, Leeds host Romford - who are currently sat two points ahead in second - while Hull visit Sheffield Steeldogs. Sunday brings Hull and Leeds up against each other in their final preliminary round game in East Yorkshire.

Leaders Milton Keynes Lightning and third-placed Swindon Wildcats don’t finish their Cup schedules until later in the month, likewise the Steeldogs who are currently three points back off Leeds and Hull with a game in hand.

Defeat in regulation to the Seahawks on Saturday combined with Leeds taking two points from their last two Cup games and Swindon securing a point from their Sunday night trip to Telford Tigers would signal the end of Sheffield’s hopes of retaining the trophy they won last year in a dramatic two-legged final against the Knights.