WE had a good start against Manchester Phoenix in the cup on Sunday, but in the end it was a tough one and we lost 12-5.

We knew it wasn’t going to be easy because they are an EPL side.

We started very well, we had a lucky goal to kick us off after just 10 seconds, but a goal is a goal.

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I think their keeper would quite like it back to be honest, it was a fast one, it was a great start.

In the first period we kind of stuck with them, but in the second period they blew us off the ice really; they have got two quality imports who just ruled the game.

Games against EPL sides are a learning curve for us all, a lot of us haven’t played against teams of this level before so it’s a good thing for us to learn new things and improve our own game.

They will be opening you up in ways that wouldn’t happen at our level and you can learn from that.

They are good games to be involved in and they are a learning experience. I really enjoy them even if we do get beat quite convincingly.

We have to take confidence from it, we put five goals past them, which is a good effort.

They have got the two imports who are probably on £1,000 a week. They’re good players, big, strong guys who will probably bully teams in the EPL never mind teams at our level.

Looking ahead it’s a massive weekend coming up for us.

We’ve got Sheffield Spartans away on Saturday, who are coming off the back of two good wins last weekend, over Whitley and Solway, so they will be full of confidence for the game and it will be a tough one for us.

On Sunday we have Billingham and I don’t need to say much about that one, it will be another big game.

It’s a tough weekend as we play two good teams but we are targeting two more wins, and I’m confident we can get the four points.

We are looking to go the whole year without losing at our level, that is the aim.

I’ve said all season that if we play to our potential then nobody can beat us.

We have already proved so far this season that we are capable of beating the sides around us and I don’t see any reason why we should be losing games.