THREE games last weekend and another three defeats. So nothing new there for Bracknell Bees, writes Dave Wright.

But the EPIHL’s bottom club certainly did not go down without a fight on each night.

They lost 6-5 in overtime in Friday’s re-arranged game at Hull Pirates with a team that was missing seven regulars.

On Saturday, a back to near full-strength side were beaten 4-2 at Sheffield despite taking a 2-0 lead into the final period.

Then 24 hours later, in their penultimate home fixture of the season, Bees pushed title-chasing Peterborough Phantoms all the way, holding them at 1-1 before conceding three goals in the last 15 minutes despite having nine shots to their visitors’ five in the period.

“The mentality of the team is just not to quit,” said captain Matt Foord.

“We don’t give up, which is a testament to the whole team.

“It was tough (playing) three games in three nights, but in each game we were in it until late on.

“We just need that bit more experience to help close games out.

“On Friday we took Hull to over-time, and last night we were controlling the game up to the third period,” said Foord, speaking to the News on Sunday.

“Tonight we played really well. It is just that little bit of experience we are lacking.

“But at the same time we have a lot of young kids who are learning every single time they go on the ice and that can only be a good thing.”

Looking to the future, Foord added: “If we can hang on to some players and bring in a few young hungry imports, you never know what might happen.

“Teams like Peterborough never give up. They work hard and are fighting at the top of the table.

“I am not saying we will be top of the table, but we can, as a team, put up a fight and put a decent shift in.”

That was certainly the case at Hull. After a goal-less opening period, the teams shared four goals in the second stanza and three in the third.

Jan Bendik scored twice and was credited with three assists, while it was two and two for Josh Smith, with Lukas Smital getting the other goal.

Vanya Antonov had a chance to win the game for Bees in over-time, only to be denied by Pirates netminder Ashley Smith.

There were just 72 seconds remaining when Hull, the side immediately above Bracknell in the table, grabbed victory through Nathan Salem.

It was heart-breaking for the young, short-benched Bees side, whose man-of-the-match award went to Josh Tetlow.

At Sheffield, the prize went to young Antonov for his two goals. His first, in the 19th minute, was set up by Tom Relf and Carl Thompson.

Antonov doubled Bees’ advantage at 32:41 with Thompson again involved.

But Bracknell’s hopes of securing a shock win ended in the final period.

Sheffield, who had previously used their imports sparingly, sent out their strongest lines and within 71 seconds of the resumption were on level terms, before going on to win the game with strikes at 49:25 and 56:14.

Peterborough, lying second in the table to Basingstoke Bison, took a third-minute lead on Sunday through Milan Baranyk and held it until 26:17 when Thompson netted after good work by Smital.

Bees enjoyed a good second period and stayed very much in the hunt until the last 15 minutes.

But they were then sent reeling as Phantoms regained the lead at 45:37 through Will Weldon and 35 seconds later Marc Levers made it 3-1.

In a strong spell of pressure, Bees went close to scoring on several occasions before conceding a fourth goal, scored by Baranyk, at 56:13.

A 4-1 scoreline certainly did not reflect the effort put in by the home team.

Bees finish their season this weekend – taking on Telford at The Hive on Saturday (6pn) before visiting Manchester Phoenix on Sunday (6.30pm).