Flames too hot to handle for battling Steeldogs

CANCELLING out a three-goal deficit at the home of the league champions was always likely to be difficult for Sheffield Steeldogs, and so it proved in the second leg of the English Premier League Cup final.

Trailing 6-3 from the first leg at Ice Sheffield two weeks ago, a 6-2 win for the Guildford Flames confirmed their superiority - both in quality and budget - on Wednesday night and sees them head into the post-season aiming for a rare treble.

The Steeldogs still have plenty to play for, however, despite their 12-5 aggregate loss.

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The coming weekend remains crucial to their hopes of finishing the regular season in third place, although games against Bracknell - fighting it out for the last play-off spot with Peterborough - and champions Guildford will ensure they have to achieve their aim the hard way.

In Guildford on Wednesday night, the early goal recently-crowned EPL coach of the year Andre Payette was looking for was delivered after just 55 seconds, with a strike from EPL player of the year Janis Ozolins giving travelling supporters hope that the improbable was actually possible.

But, within five minutes, the Flames had reasserted their authority and were 2-1 ahead on the night, goals from David Longstaff and Jozef Kohut putting them ahead.

Further goals from Paul Dixon - on the powerplay - and Matt Towe made it 4-1 just after the halfway point, although a goal from Stuart Brittle at 38.32 gave the visitors a glimmer of hope.

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That ended just under five minutes into the third, however, when Nathan Rempel fired past Ben Bowns. Jez Lundin’s 54th-minute strike sealed a comfortable win for Guildford as they added the Cup trophy to the regular season league title they sealed almost two weeks ago.

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