BRACKNELL Bees are edging towards peak form as the end-of-season play-offs approach, writes Dave Wright.

“We are getting to where we want to be,” said player-coach Scott Spearing following his side’s excellent 5-3 win over Swindon Wildcats on Sunday.

“We now feel we can beat any team in our league.”

Bees’ poor run of results, which produced only two wins in 18 games, looks well behind them as they have taken seven points from their last four games.

They followed up their victories over Invicta Dynamos and Cardiff Fire by losing 3-2 after penalties at Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday before whipping the Wildcats 24 hours later.

“We have been taking steps to be better all over the ice,” Spearing told the News.

“We are getting to where we want to play and that has shown in our last two results.

“Every single player on the ice – the goalie to the imports, the Brits old and young, to Rob and Coxy (coaches Rob Lamey and Gareth Cox) on the bench, everyone is playing their part.

“I think we are now playing better than we were at the start of the season.

“At the start of the season, we had a couple of individuals playing really well and leading the way, and not so many guys following. But now everybody is on the bandwagon, and believing in the systems we are playing, and playing to the same targets.

“It is good to see everyone being positive and pushing each other along.”

Despite their last three wins, Bees remain fifth in NIHL Division One South, but are closely challenging the side immediately above them, London Raiders.

Spearing continued: “At the moment it’s not where we end up in the league because we feel we can beat any team, but it’s more important we hit the form going into the play-offs.

“We want to go in playing the right systems, showing hard work, blocking shots, jumping in front of the puck, which is key, and we were doing that on Sunday.

“The guys were getting first to the rebounds after Metz (net-minder Alex Mettam) had made the first block which was great to see.”

Spearing was also pleased with his side’s performance at second-placed Peterborough, stating: “We dominated the game and were unlucky to lose.

“I felt the referee was very unfair with a lot of calls he made and we were unlucky not to have taken the points in the 60 minutes.

“But it was still another step forward to being the team we want to be going into the play-offs.”

Bees face two tough tests this coming weekend with fixtures against the sides who share top spot in the table on 44 points.

They visit Basingstoke Bison on Saturday before hosting Peterborough Phantoms a day later (6pm on both days).

Spearing commented: “They will be big challenges for us, but if we play like we have in the last two games, there is no reason why we can’t pick up more points this weekend.

“We just have to bring our A-game to every match for the rest of the year.”