DUNDEE TIGERS 1 PAISLEY PIRATES 4

Pirates continued their recent impressive run of results to clock up a 4-1 success in Dundee and, in doing so, kept the pressure on the two teams immediately above them in the SNL table.

They were ahead on the powerplay in the 9th minute as Thorp was on hand to link with Spiers and beat Kynoch to put the visitors ahead with the go ahead goal. Pirates were outshooting the home side by two to one in the opening session but were unable to find a way through thereafter, but nevertheless headed for the dressing rooms as the end of the first 20 minutes nursing a 1-0 advantage.

In the middle session, Pirates doubled their advantage in the 26th minute as Thorp fed off Crute to make it 2-0 and give his side some breathing space. The home side came more into the game, but found Russell in excellent form, turning away twelve shots in the period to allow his team the luxury of a two goal lead after 40 minutes

With the game still up for grabs, Pirates came out for the final session looking to kill off the challenge from the Tigers, and they did so with a quick fire double as first Marc Crute, then Martyn Guy, scored within the first six minutes of the period to take the game well away from the hosts at 4-0. The latter did come back just after the halfway point in the stanza as Guilcher put the Tigers on the board as he beat Russell for a marker while on one of only two powerplays given up by the visitors in a well–disciplined display, and they safely saw out the remaining minutes to return home with the two league points.

Pirates now face a challenging weekend, travelling back to Dundee on Saturday for their match against the Comets, who currently top the SNL table, and then play host to Kirkcaldy Kestrels, lying in second place, on Sunday at Braehead Arena (face off 6.00pm).