Vanya Antonov stuck twice as Bees ended a miserable run of nine consecutive defeats with Sunday’s 4-3 basement-battle success at the Hive.

Jan Bendik and Matt Foord were also on target as the hosts enjoyed a first win of any kind since the 7-2 Challenge Cup success against Wightlink Raiders on December 4.

Player-coach Smital admitted it has been a challenge to keep his confidence-stricken charges motivated during a lean spell which has left the club cut adrift at the foot of the EPIHL standings.

However, the Czech believes his young side have finally received some just desserts having stuck to their principals during these tough and testing times.

He told the News: “It has been hard and you have to keep on top of it – you have to pump their tyres in a way. Because we are down you cannot be negative and frustrated because it all shows.

“If you are negative and aggressive and demanding it reflects on the team and beats them down even more, so you have to be relaxed.

“Mistakes happen, just let it go then rather than go off your head, so that is what I have been doing and the guys have responded well.

“You can see it in their eyes that they want to win, and that has been the hardest part.” Smital revealed how he held a meeting with his players immediately after the 4-0 reverse at Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday, a conversation he suggested helped stimulate the team ahead of their must-win clash with the Lightning just 24 hours later.

He added: “We have worked so hard over the last few weeks and on Sunday it just paid off. It is very hard to always keep on top of your game if you keep losing.

“We had a meeting on Saturday, where I said as long as we play and give it our all, it will pay off, and it did.

“Sometimes you are unlucky and get outplayed, but we have stuck with it.

“We believe that the hard work pays off, and that is what happened against MK.

“It feels very good (to be celebrating a win).” Sunday’s result moved Bracknell to within seven points of the Lightning, the team Smital believes Bees will be battling it out with for the eighth and final play-off spot.

The two sides still have to face each other a further three times before the end of the domestic season, games the forward has identified as pivotal if his roster are to pinch a top-eight finish.

Smital, though, is focusing his immediate attentions on looking to build up some further momentum this weekend, where Bees travel to Wightlink Raiders in the Challenge Cup on Saturday before in-form Swindon Wildcats head to town the following day (both 6pm).

The coach would not be drawn on whether or not he feels Bees have finally turned a corner with regards to their season, but did look ahead to the visit of the Wildcats with renewed optimism.

“If I didn’t believe (we could reach the play-offs), I wouldn’t be here – and none of the guys would be,” said Smital.

“There is loads of games left and we are going to do our best to claw the seven points back, but it is just a matter of confidence.

“(Swindon) are on an eight or nine game winning streak and are flying at the moment, so why cannot it be us to end it?

“That is the way we have got to look at it, and we will be prepared for them.” Bees are hopeful import forward Radek Hubacek will have shaken off an injury which ruled him out of the Christmas fixtures in time for the weekend.