BRACKNELL Bees were involved in two extraordinary games last weekend – but ended up pointless and licking their wounds, writes Dave Wright.

On Saturday they trailed Peterborough Phantoms 5-0 with less than 10 minutes remaining, but then rattled in four goals and came within a whisker of equalising in a grandstand finish.

But hopes of carrying that red-hot finishing into Sunday’s game at Guildford Flames quickly went up in smoke, as they conceded six goals in the opening 19 minutes.

Bees went on to lose 10-1 after a final period that saw both sides show a remarkable lack of discipline with a succession of offences leading to Danny Ingoldsby and home player Marek Maslonka both being thrown out of the game.

It was a night of horror for the Bees fans, who just 24 hours earlier had cheered the players off the rink in recognition of their spirited fightback.

They appeared to be heading for a crushing defeat with Phantoms taking a 1-0 lead in the opening period, adding three more goals in the second, followed by a fifth in the 50th minute. Having produced a workmanlike but not spectacular performance, the visitors looked home and dry with no way back for the Bees.

They were, however, showing their best form, having cranked up the pressure and creating chances with player-coach Lukas Smith working overtime.

There were several close misses before they eventually broke their duck. It came on power play in the 52nd minute when Carl Thompson rounded off a move involving imports Luka Basic and David Gaborcik.

Bracknell were up and running and, if they wanted even more inspiration, then it came from Smital, who rounded the net, going from right to left, before turning to tuck the puck inside the near pipe.

Rio Grinell-Parke forced home a shot on 56:43 to make it 5-3 and the deficit was cut to one thanks to Smital’s second goal of the night, leaving Bees more than two minutes to find the equaliser.

They pulled netminder Alex Mettam a minute from time, threw everything at Peterborough and Basic came within inches of scoring their fifth.

It may have been the exertions from the previous night, but Bees were simply outplayed and outfought in the opening period at Guildford.

Flames made a scorching start, netting five times in the opening 11 minutes – the first two just 14 seconds apart in the fourth minute – with Marek Malonka recording a hat-trick.

The over-worked Mettam gave way to young Matt Smital, who then saw his dad, Lukas, sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes late in the first period for an unsportsmanlike offence.

It was an embarrassing opening 20 minutes for Bees, who had only lost on penalties to Flames at home a week earlier and were winners at the Spectrum last month.

Bees tightened up in defence for the rest of the game, conceding just one goal in the middle period and three in the last.

Grinell-Parke netted a consolation goal with a little less than 90 seconds left on the clock after linking up with James Galazzi and Matt Foord.

The last 10 minutes was littered by penalties, which led to a rather alarming total of 71 minutes for Bees and 64 for their opponents.

It was a game referee David Cloutman will probably want to forget.

Bees, who remain second bottom of the table, are home to third-placed Hull Pirates this Saturday (6pm) before going to the fourth club, Peterborough, on Sunday (6pm).