Stingrays captain Jeff Glowa scored the winner against Newcastle Pic: A Foster

Jason Kostadine's goal was not enough to prevent Hull Stingrays losing 5-1 at home against the Nottingham Panthers in the Elite League.

Despite the defeat the Rays are in the eighth and the final play-off place after winning 2-1 at Newcastle on Saturday evening.

Rays Coach Rick Strachan told BBC Radio Humberside: "The job isn't done.

"Every week we need to pick up points to keep our play-off place and we want to go out there every week and win."

On Saturday night, the Rays secured back-to-back away wins for the first time this season when they came away from Newcastle 2-1 winners in the Metro Radio Arena. Steve Slonina fired them ahead in the 17th minute but two seconds before the first interval buzzer sounded, Ed Courtney pounced to level on the powerplay for the Vipers.

Strachan had the luxury of rotating a six-man defence throughout the game and that kept the North East side at bay and Rays captain Jeff Glowa fired the winner past the home netminder Andrew Verner with just over four minutes remaining.

"It was a typical road game. We played good defence, kept it tight and accomplished what we wanted to do," said Strachan.

They had three lines and we had two and that always tells. My guys were tired and Nottingham have a great powerplay Stingrays Coach Rick Strachan

"For the winner, Newcastle cleared the puck, it hit the referee and Glowa was where he was supposed to be and at last good things are happening for us."

Against Nottingham, the Rays conceded three powerplay goals on their way to a 5-1 reverse. Kostadine levelled an early Jade Galbraith goal but the Panthers took advantage of a man extra twice early in the middle period as Johan Molin and Dan Tessier scored.

Further markers from Brendon Cook and Matt Myers saw the East Midlands side close out the win with ease. However, Strachan refused to be critical when he said: "They had three lines and we had two and that always tells. My guys were tired and Nottingham have a great powerplay and took advantage of some cheat penalty calls."

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