BRACKNELL Bees produced a stunning comeback to force Swindon Wildcats into overtime and penalties in a 9-8 defeat on Saturday.

In a thoroughly entertaining EPIHL match, Bracknell fought back to 8-8, having trailed by seven goals with 16 minutes remaining.

Before the game could even settle, and with eight seconds on the clock, Aaron Nell let rip with a shot that finished in the top corner of the Bracknell net.

Bees levelled the scores when Milan Kostourek pounced on a loose puck and broke free, rounding goalie Stevie Lyle to net in the 17th minute.

Swindon regained the lead at the end of the first period as Nell found Jonas Hoog and he poked the puck into the net from close range.

The second period would start in similar fashion with an early Wildcats goal, this time with just under 90 seconds on the clock.

A Jan Kostal shot was deflected somewhat fortuitously into the path of Adam Harding who simply tapped the puck into the empty net.

Only 90 seconds later, following some good pressure, Swindon found the back of the net once more through Nell, despite the best efforts of netminder Alex Mettam.

Sam Bullas added a fifth goal as The Wildcats looked to kill the game off, and Kostal was on target with a hard long range shot.

Swindon further extended their lead when Tomasz Malansinski fired past Mettam with just three minutes remaining on the clock in the second stanza.

With a hill to climb in the final period, Bracknell needed a good start though it was the home team who would find the back of the net once more.

A Bullas shot was saved by Mettam but the rebound was tucked away by Floyd Taylor.

The Bees responded immediately when Kostourek broke away again and finished well to beat Lyle in the Swindon net.

The visitors kept on pushing forward and Lukas Smital tipped the puck past Lyle before Alex Barker crashed home a long range shot.

Josh Smith then narrowed the lead further when he found the top shelf of Lyles’ net and Barker fired a shot straight from the face-off to reduce Swindon’s lead.

Bracknell kept at the task with their tails up and Carl Thompson got in on the act with Bees’ sixth and seventh goals.

The phenomenal comeback was complete when player-coach Smith bundled the puck home to tie the game up against all the odds.

The Bees started the overtime period with a man advantage but the sides could not be separated and the game would be decided by penalty shots.

Kostourek and Nell both scored the first penalties with Barker, Malasinski, Jan Bendik and Hoog all failing, before Smital and Kostal would both score their side’s fourth penalty.

Matt Foord and Taylor failed and, when Thompson saw his shot saved and Adam Harding scored it was Swindon who took the second point.

On Sunday, Bees lost a cup match 2-1 away at Manchester Phoenix with Milan Kostourek on the scoresheet.

Bracknell travel to Telford Tigers this Saturday (5.30pm) and then host Basingstoke Bison on Sunday (6pm).