Steeldogs hit the heights in EPL

SHEFFIELD Steeldogs’ player-coach Andre Payette has challenged his players to maintain their early momentum after a four-point opening weekend left them sitting top of the English Premier League table

And while the Steel City’s second-tier representatives may in the long term struggle to retain their lofty position, their two wins over a much-fancied and strengthened Swindon Wildcats certainly made other teams in the league sit up and take notice.

The Steeldogs came away from Wiltshire with both points after sealing an overtime win with a Ben Morgan strike on Friday night. Two days later, they welcomed Ryan Aldridge’s team into Ice Sheffield and romped to a 4-1 victory.

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Roses rivals and defending champions Manchester Phoenix may have plundered 10 goals in opening weekend victories against likely title rivals Slough and Guildford but, on goal difference, it is the Steeldogs who lead the way.

“It was a fantastic way to start the league campaign with a four-pointer,” said a delighted Payette.

“It was a happy team bus coming back from Swindon in the early hours of Saturday morning and an even happier dressing room on Sunday night. Now we have to focus on next weekend against Basingstoke away and Milton Keynes at home.

“No weekend is going to be easy this year, especially after seeing some interesting results from this weekend’s league games and we have to keep working hard in training and in games.”

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Despite being edged out by the Steeldogs on home ice last Friday, Swindon arrived in South Yorkshire in buoyant mood following a 6-0 thrashing of Telford Tigers on Saturday.

But the Steeldogs came out hard and showed their intent from the early stages. They took charge of the game with two quick goals five seconds apart, Steve Duncombe first to find the net short-handed at 8.03 followed by Janis Ozolins at 8.08. A further goal by Greg Wood at 16.37 sealed a 3-0 first period lead.

After 40 minutes it was 4-0 to the home side after Edgars Bebris scored on a wraparound at 29.22.

Swindon pushed the Steeldogs harder in the third and finally broke Ben Bowns’s hopes of a shut-out at 48.02 with an unassisted goal by James Knight.

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Sheffield: Wood 1+1, Duncombe, Ozolins & Bebris 1+0, Payette, Gibson, Hirst & Gomeniuk 0+1; MOM: Duncombe; SOG: 26/1; Pens: 16 mins.

Swindon: Knight 1+0; MOM. S Moore; SOG: 41/4; Pens: 24 mins.

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