Paisley Pirates coach Adam Walker wishes the club could have given retiring stalwart Martyn Guy a better send-off after being painfully sunk by Dundee Comets.
The Renfrewshire club sailed into this season’s SNL play-off semi-finals in Edinburgh hoping to book a spot in Sunday’s showpiece final.
But the Pirates quickly found themselves in choppy waters, with the Dundee side racing into a three-goal lead at the end of the first session.
While the Paisley team battled to get back into the game, ultimately they couldn’t breach the Comets’ defence – going on to suffer a disappointing 4-0 defeat.
With the Pirates’ season now wrapped up, the semi-final turned out to be long-serving Guy’s final game for the team.
And Walker admits it was an underwhelming end to Guy’s successful career with the Braehead Arena outfit.
He told Renfrewshire Live Sport: “It was a difficult game for us. Ultimately, we didn’t show up at our best and in knockout competition, you have to be right at it from the start.
“It was a combination of things. I think we were too tentative in the first period.
“We talked before the game about not giving them time and space early doors, and in the end that’s exactly what we gave
them.
“We worked our way back into the game, but ultimately you just can’t give your opponents a three-goal lead.
“You have to limit their chances and we simply didn’t do that.
“It was Martyn’s last game with the club as he’s decided to retire and spend more time with the family, which we totally understand.
“It was a real shame for it to end like that for him. He’s been with us for over 10 years and he deserved a better send-off for everything he’s given to the club.
“He has been a massive help to us over the last decade and more and he’ll be tough to replace because people like that don’t come around too often.
“He leaves with our best wishes and hopefully he won’t be a stranger to the club.”
After a gruelling season on and off the ice, the Pirates players are understandably ready for a welcome break with the season done and dusted.
Walker revealed he and fellow coach Ian Turley will take some time off to recover before beginning to plan for the next campaign.
He said: “I think a lot of the guys need the break.
“We’d have liked to have had a chance at the play-off title, but it just wasn’t to be this time around.
“It’s time for me and Ian now to go away and reflect and see where we can be better. In fairness I don’t think we’re that far away.
“We all need a break, but then we’ll reassess and get an understanding with the players of how we can move forward as a club.
“It’s been a difficult season and it’s tested us as a club.
“We’ve had a few things that have tried our patience but we’ve been supportive of Braehead Arena and the players have been great to just get on with it.
“We had to spend a significant chunk of time practising in Edinburgh, which wasn’t ideal, and some people don’t see how tough it’s been. Hopefully next season will be a lot more straightforward.”
A Paisley Pirates spokesperson added: “We can honestly say we have had a great bunch of guys this season, on and off the ice.
“A huge thank you to our players, old and new. It’s been a pleasure watching you all this season and getting to know you all off the ice as well.
“And to our coaches – Ian and Adam. Usually it’s the players that get all the credit. But a huge thanks for your time, effort, hard work and determination.”
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