Guildford Flames’ Player/Coach Paul Dixon has challenged his team to improve their third period performances as they prepare for Wednesday’s EPL Cup semi-final first leg tie at Basingstoke Bison.

Flames fell 3-2 at MK Lightning on Saturday, but looked on course to bounce back the following night as they raced into a 2-0 lead.

Lightning fought back to seal another 3-2 victory to leave Flames without a point from the double-header and Dixon admitted he wasn’t happy with his team’s collapse.

“The visit to Milton Keynes was a loss, but to be honest there was little more we could have done to win the game so we can’t go away thinking too badly about the evening,” he said.

“If you were trying to figure out the difference in the score, you could only say that one team had a bit better luck, which is the uncontrollable part of any result, so there is no mileage in worrying about the outcome there.

“Sunday our concern was again the third period, and that is something worth considering. After controlling the better part of two periods, we lost the game in the final 20 minutes which is not the first time.

“It’s hard to put our finger on it, but we have to do a better job, especially in the cup semi-final, of showing more consistency across periods, and hopefully we can do that at Basingstoke on Wednesday.”

(Image permission: John Uwins)