Lukas Smital’s men were edged out 3-2 by Basingstoke Bison in a nailbiter at The Hive on Saturday night, but were then put to the sword by Sheffield Steeldogs on Sunday as the side directly above them in the table triumphed 4-1.

Sunday’s bottom-of-the-table clash started with a bang as Craig Elliott and Jeff Legue set up Janis Ozolins who beat Alex Mettam over his shoulder in just 13 seconds. However Bees were given a five-on-three powerplay when the goalscorer was called for roughing and shortly after Elliott went for a trip, but the hosts shut out Bracknell. The Bees were making regular trips to the box but with Scott Spearing off the ice, the Dogs power play struck through Tom Squires, assisted by Legue.

The middle period was cagey and both teams had chances to score with the netminders being given a work out. Sheffield always looked the more likely to extend their lead with Legue and Ozolins combining well, and they went further ahead when Tom Squires redirected an Andrew Hirst shot. As the buzzer sounded for the end of the second period the home team skated off knowing they had put in a solid 40 minutes of controlled hockey while the Bees hoped for a stunning final period comeback.

But they made the worst possible start to the final stanza as Legue, Ozolins and Elliott again combined to set up the former for another goal.

The Dogs could have scored again when Hirst had a great breakaway chance, but for the second time in the game he hit the steel not the twine. The Bees battled on bravely and took advantage of a late power play when 17-year-old starlet Danny Ingoldsby scored a late goal with less than five minutes remaining, but in the end it was merely a consolation.

After an end-to-end start against the Bison, Bracknell opened the scoring as the first period drew to a close.

With Bison player Joe Baird off the ice for a slashing minor, the Bees powerplay unit clicked well when Jan Bendik combined well with Radek Hubacek who broke the deadlock.

Things got even worse for the Bison only thirty seconds into the second period as Ciaran Long was called for delay of game leading to a Bees five-on-three powerplay. Although the visitors stood firm against Bracknell’s numerical advantage, the Bees were still pressing and the puck was thrown around the boards behind Skinns net, before taking a strange bounce and ending up in front of the unguarded goal.

And this allowed the talented Ingoldsby to tap into the empty net for his first EPIHL goal.

However, despite the Bees continuing to create chances, goals from Doug Sheppard and Baird levelled matters by the end of the second period, and with the final period goalless, the game went to penalties.

Joe Rand missed the opening shot for the Bison in the shootout, but Hubacek had his effort saved. Long put the visitors in front before Bendik, Tomas Karpov and Ryan Watt were denied to give Basingstoke the win.

Bees visit Guildford Flames on Friday (4pm), Swindon Wildcats on Saturday (6pm), and then host the Flames on Sunday (6pm).