SLOUGH Jets have suffered a first defeat in four matches in the National Ice Hockey League after a 9-2 defeat away at Guildford on Saturday.

Goals from Joshua Abbott and Montgomery Gailer gave Guildford a lead at the end of the first period.

Timo Lindgren pulled one back for the Jets but Andrew Hemmings restored the two-goal advantage before the second buzzer.

Guildford stole a march at the start of the final stanza and a brace from Nicholas Minhinnick, plus goals from Abbott and Michael Krogh, made it 7-1 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Nathan Darmanin got the second goal for Slough, but the home team had the final say when both Matthew Tull and Harry Hatfield netted in the closing stages.

The Jets head coach Lukas Smital told the Observer: “We played well for two periods but started to miss a few players, including myself, and a few goals.

“The team played really well to get to the third period before Guildford had a momentum-changing moment to score quick goals and bury us.

“The performance was fantastic on challenging big ice and I can’t say I’m unhappy.”

He continued: “To win two or three games in a row, which we have done, doesn’t mean you will start beating the top teams, that’s not going to happen.

“We got beat, but when I look at the team from September to now, it has a completely different mentality and it’s fantastic to be a part of it.”

Slough remain in sixth position in the South Two league table despite the defeat but do not return to action until a trip to Chelmsford Chieftains on Sunday, February 18 (6.30pm).

Smital said: “We’ve got a little bit of time out of the game and can relax a little. We will carry on after the break and have just got to re-set.

"Chelmsford will want their revenge at that's something we've spoken about at practice this week."

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