Published: Tuesday, 17th November, 2009 3:00pm

Mixed weekend for Bees

Ice hockey

Bees action

A FANTASTIC performance from the Bracknell Bees ensured that Sheffield's six-game winning streak was brought to a halt with a 6-3 beating at the Hive.

Claude Dumas' outfit produced their most polished game of the season to earn a comfortable win, with the second line providing a spark with three of the goals in a feisty encounter on Saturday evening.

"We had a great game," Dumas said. "The first 10 minutes we were running a bit, but after we scored we kept our composure and played some good hockey.

"I was a little bit disappointed we took a few (penalty) minutes to make it harder for ourselves, but we scored a big goal at the right time to win it.

"We didn't let them back in it and it was our best performance of the season."

It was the visitors who took the lead though, opening the scoring at 5.05 through James Archer on a well-worked give-and-go with Stephen Wallace.

The Bees drew level at 10.59 after good work from Ryan Watt and Dumas, with captain Terry Miles touching in the puck from close range.

After this fairly even period, the Bees were to dominate the second session, firing 22 shots on Ben Bowns in the Scimitars net, to 12 in reply.

Ryan Watt created the second goal with a surprising burst of speed, Miles then created panic around the net which allowed Watt to finish at 28.20.

Jaroslav Cesky took an outlet pass from Greg Randall and blew a blistering shot past the netminder and into the top corner for a 3-1 lead at 30.26.

The action heated up as Danny House became tangled with Bowns, leading to Ashley Calvert dropping the gloves with Robert Farmer.

Five minutes later Nicky Watt and Archer did the same, with all four players earning roughing double minors. Unfortunately a late strike from Matt Haywood at 39.12 undid some of the Bees efforts.

However, just 33 seconds into the final session, Cesky converted a powerplay opportunity to restore a two-goal lead.

Despite then having Andrius Kaminskas in the sin-bin, Bracknell stretched their lead to 5-2 at 45.15 as Dumas knocked home a bouncing puck following Ryan Watt's initial shot.

Mark Stewart chipped in a powerplay marker for Sheffield at 55.14, but Bees' Michal Pinc had the last word after scoring on an empty net with three seconds left - Miles providing the primary assist.

Dumas, Miles and man of the match Ryan Watt all recorded one goal plus two assists on the evening to help them achieve back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

IN SEARCH of their first four-point weekend, the Bracknell Bees became unstuck as Romford Raiders claimed only their second win of the season on Sunday evening.

"It wasn't us taking the game for granted I don't think," said head coach Claude Dumas. "I knew it was going to be difficult.

"We didn't want them to get hyped up with the crowd they had in there after winning recently but we gave them the first goal and they were always in front.

"We had a few chances to start with but didn't play strongly and they took advantage."

Defenceman Jon Sitko scored a hat-trick for the hosts, opening the scoring with a powerplay goal after 7.47.

The Bees collected four first period penalties, including two bench penalties for delay of game, but it was even-handed when Jesse Hamill made it 2-0 at 18.21.

The situation was to get worse for Bracknell as Sitko hit his second at 22.51 to give Romford a three-goal advantage.

Michal Pinc put the visitors on the scoreboard at 29.08 on the powerplay, only for Frankie Harvey to restore the three goal advantage with a Raiders powerplay effort at 30.59.

Pinc then tangled with player-coach Hamill, both men sitting out for four minutes after their altercation.

Sitko completed his treble at 44.53, ruling out any prospect of a Bees' comeback, although they did get the next goal.

This came short-handed through Greg Randall, neatly set up by Pinc and Jaroslav Cesky at 45.22, but just 36 seconds later Romford replied through Dean Tonks.

Cesky scored another short-hander late on, but Raiders were good value for their win.

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