LUKAS Smital is taking the positives after Slough Jets got the new season under way with an 8-2 defeat at Oxford City Stars on Saturday.

Oxford are the defending champions and took a clear lead into the first break thanks to goals from Joe Edwards, Darren Elliott and Dax Hedges.

Edwards scored his second of the match before Liam Underdown netted for the Jets to tie the second period.

The home team secured the win in the final stanza with goals from Conor Redmond, Lee Richardson and Michal Oravec.

Slough stuck to the task and Samuel Talbot pulled a goal back late on, but Oxford had the final say as Matthew Lawday netted with less than 90 seconds left on the clock.

Jets player-head coach Smital told the Observer: “It was a tough game against a strong team that operates on a different level to us.

“We did really well in the first 10 minutes but then Oxford got a powerplay goal and at times they dominated us in our own zone which we need to work on.

“They then added another goal, but we still had chances and there was a threat there as well, so all in all there are some positives to take from the game.

“It was a game that we went into with nothing to lose because a win would’ve been a major upset and a defeat was expected, but for us how we play is important.

“We will focus on our performance rather than looking at the scoreline.

“Our execution in the powerplays was a little poor, so we will need to re-set those in practise and so some drills to make them better.

“We had a little chat after the game and there’s still a good feeling in the locker room. We know we need to get that first win to focus our season.”

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