SCOTT Spearing went from hero to zero in a short space of time during Bracknell Bees’ 3-2 defeat by Manchester Phoenix at The Hive on Sunday, writes Dave Wright.

Looking to bounce back following their 4-2 loss to Milton Keynes Lightning 24 hours earlier, Bees got off to a flying start with Vanya Antonov taking little more than three minutes in opening the scoring and Spearing doubling the home side’s advantage in the 12th minute.

Hopes of a much-needed win looked on the cards.

However, Bees’ already weakened 12-man squad were depleted even further when Spearing was sent to the sin-bin.

Eighty-eight seconds after his goal, Spearing was penalised for a high tackle on Martin Baranek. He was given a five-minute ban, which was then upgraded to a match ban.

“It was an accident. He didn’t mean to do it,” said team captain Matt Foord. “But it was still a penalty and there is nothing you can do about it; it’s the rules.”

During the power play, the Bees net came under constant bombardment but some outstanding defending kept the visitors at bay.

Defensively, it was their best period of the whole game.

But that started to change when they conceded for the first time just 19 seconds into the second period with Stanislav Gron deflecting the puck home from close range.

Bees responded well with Alex Barker, Tom Beesley, Carl Thompson and Matt Foord all getting in attempts on goal. Then Antonov made a lightning break, only to put his name on the list of close misses.

But it was a period littered by penalties for both sides although there certainly appeared to be lack of consistency from the match officials.

Beesley, again, and Jan Bendik had no better luck early in the third period, while Antonov saw his effort well saved.

And Bees were made to pay for squandering chances when Gron scored his second goal of the game to level things up with just under 10 minutes remaining.

With Bees tiring, the balance of play edged Manchester’s way and only their post prevented Michal Satek from scoring.

However, it was not long afterwards when Baranek fired a low, angled shot past keeper Alex Mettam for the winner on 55:05.

Bracknell drew on all their last reserves of energy to make a late effort to score with Bendik being denied by Stephen Fone with the last shot of the game.

Bendik was voted his side’s match of the match, while the award on Saturday had gone to Antonov.

He fired Bees ahead against Milton Keynes on 23:26, but two goals late in the same period saw the lead change hands.

Lightning extended their advantage to 4-1 before Spearing cut the arrears by one with a little over a minute remaining.

Another winless weekend for The Hive men leaves them at the foot of the table with 18 points from 42 games.

Three points above them are Hull, also on 42, and Manchester are third from bottom with 35 points having played two games fewer.