GALLERY: Bracknell Bees overcome Leeds Chiefs

The 21-year-old forward from Warfield got his chance, as did club junior Casey Wilson, on an evening when Bees were left short-benched due to injuries, with Aidan Doughty the latest to join the casualty list.

“I was impressed by Josh and Casey,” commented head coach Doug Sheppard.

Roman Malinik and Ealey-Newman, with a goal on power-play, got their side off to a good start by scoring in the opening eight minutes.

But Radel Meidl pulled one back to make it 2-1 at the first interval, by which time both sides had lost a player with Ed Knaggs (Bees) and Adam Barnes (Chiefs) thrown out for high-stick offences.

There was a similar scoreline in the second period with Zach Milton and Ryan Webb on target for Bees, either side of Meidl’s second goal for the Yorkshire visitors.

The hosts, however, were unable to add to their tally, while James Archer pulled one back four minutes from time to set up a tense finish, but Bees defended well to secure a deserved second league win of the season.

Sheppard was pleased with his side’s competitive level, adding: “We had four forwards missing, but we got the job done and it was good to pick up two points at home.”

Last Saturday, the TSI-sponsored team had gone down 4-2 at Basingstoke Bison.

They conceded first-period goals to Ashley Tait and George Norcliffe, but Malinik pulled his side level with strikes in the 29th and 33rd minutes, only for Richard Bordowski to quickly regain the lead for Bison and Tait’s second goal of the game made it 4-2 in the 46th minute.

Bees are away to Swindon Wildcats on Saturday (6.15pm) and home to MK Lightning on Sunday (5.30pm).

Sheppard says he is hoping some of his injured players will be fit to return.