Everyone Active Raiders head coach Sean Easton wants his side to keep the same mindset that brought them eight points from a possible 10 in the National League over the festive period.

Following an overtime loss to Solway, Raiders beat Bees home and away and defeated Peterborough last weekend, before losing the return on penalty shots on Monday.

They face trips to Swindon and Sheffield this weekend, having climbed up to seventh place in the table.

And Easton puts the team's recent successes down to better defensive work and a more consistent line-up.

"We are happy with our festive period. We have picked up points in our last eight games since the Bristol weekend [December 9-10)," he said.

"We have had consistency in our line-up with players which has played a huge factor in our run of results.

"We have played with a bigger defensive mindset through December which is noticeable and a reason we are picking up these results.

"Now normality resumes with fixtures, it’s about keeping the same mindset. 

"Swindon have been a different animal since returning home and Sheffield is a must-win game."

Since losing to Hull on December 3, Raiders have picked up 14 points in nine matches, despite being forced to change goalies on a regular basis.

"We have had to use a number of different goalies due to injuries," added Easton.

"We'd like to thank Adam Long and Guildford for his services against Bristol. This was Adam’s first competitive game in a number of years and he did extremely well earning the four-point weekend. 

"Then Matt Smital came in with an OT win against Telford and OT loss to Solway, earning another three points. 

"Then a welcome return for Ethan [James] after his injury in Hull, earning seven points out of four games against the Bees and Peterborough."

Tjay Anderson and George Norcliffe netted braces in the 5-4 loss to Solway on December 23, before Raiders skated to a 10-1 win over Bees on Boxing Day.

Jake Sylvester scored four times in the romp, reaching 300 career points for Raiders in the process, as Anderson claimed his first senior hat-trick and Brandon Ayliffe, Adam Laishram and Jacob Ranson also netted.

Norcliffe, Aaron Connolly, Ayliffe, Riley MacRae and Sylvester were on target in a 5-2 home win over the Bees, before Norcliffe, Connolly, Laishram and Brynley Capps - with his first senior goal - netted in a 4-2 victory over Peterborough on Saturday.

Further goals from Anderson and Norcliffe put Raiders 2-0 up at Peterborough, but Phantoms hit back with a pair of powerplay goals to level it and then win the shootout 2-0 to claim the extra point.

"We will always be able to score the goals, it’s just ensuring we don’t have to score as many to win," continued Easton. 

"We have been going into games with a quick start putting the first on the board early to put the pressure on the other team. 

"Hopefully this is able to continue for the rest of the season and we stay healthy throughout now. 

"It was great to be able to play Joe [Tomalin] and Brynley [Capps] through these games and they have both been awarded points along the way.

"Joe getting his second assist to Bryn's goal against Peterborough was a great moment to witness and the team really celebrated with them."

Raiders will continue to use the services of Smital until Brad Windebank, who is now described as day-to-day, is fully fit, while Mikey Power was due to have a scan after picking up an injury during practice last Friday.

Easton also confirmed that Blaho Novak has been battling a niggling injury for most of the season.