Lukas Smital’s side had gone into their trip to Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday night on the back of three wins in a row, but they were outgunned in an 8-4 defeat to the second-bottom side.

Scott Spearing was penalised early in the first period, although the Bees were able to deal with his absence. However, the Lightning went in front in the seventh minute when Marek Curilla was able to beat netminder Tom Annetts in the Bracknell goal.

They doubled their lead shortly after as Ross Bowers combined with Lewis Hook, with the latter hitting the target.

It was 3-0 before the end of the opening stanza as Adam Carr finished well to put his side in complete control.

However the Bees started the second period with a bang and the inspirational Smital scored twice in rapid order to cut the gap to a single goal.

Lightning player Michael Farn was then penalised for slashing, giving the Bees a powerplay, but crucially they were unable to score from it.

Four goals - three for the home side and one for the Bees - in a little under four minutes effectively sealed the game for the Lightning midway through the period.

Milan Kostourek - twice - and Jordan Cownie found the net inside a three-minute period to extend the Lightning lead to 6-2.

And although the Bees answered back almost immediately, as Radek Hubacek scored an unassisted marker to narrow the Lightning lead back to three, the damage appeared to have been done. The period ran out with no further goals or penalties with the play fairly even.

The opening 10 minutes of the final period were a calm affair before Kostourek sealed his hat-trick to put the hosts 7-3 ahead.

Bracknell had a powerplay for the final five minutes but Carr netted his second after a rapid Lightning break, before Spearing scored a late consolation as time ran out.

Swindon Wildcats gained a measure of revenge for their defeat at The Hive seven days previous as they secured a thrilling 3-2 win on Sunday.

The visitors opened the scoring in the first period when Shane Moore’s goal-bound shot was redirected by Tomasz Malasinksi’s into the net, and they doubled their advantage through Jan Kostal.

Radek Hubacek cut the gap for the Bees during the second stanza before levelling matters with less than 15 minutes remaining, but a late Malasinski strike sealed the points for the Wildcats.

The defeats leave rock bottom Bracknell 10 points behind Milton Keynes, and they visit Peterborough Phantoms tonight (8pm), before hosting Manchester Phoenix on Saturday (6pm). A three-game week is completed at runaway leaders Telford Tigers on Sunday (5.30 pm).