BRACKNELL Bees were left pointless last weekend after two contrasting performances, writes Dave Wright.

Forced to ice a depleted squad for various reasons, they went down 5-2 to bottom-of-the-table Leeds Chiefs following a sub-standard performance on Saturday, just six days after they had crushed the same opponents 11-1 at The Hive.

Then on Sunday, Bees were edged out 5-4 by visitors Milton Keynes Lightning despite playing a large part in a thoroughly entertaining clash and controversially being denied a fifth goal.

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On both nights, Bees had more shots on goal than their rivals, albeit by just one against Leeds, but it was power-play which ultimately cost them.

Three of Lightning's goals came when Bees had a man in the sin-bin, but when they held a numerical advantage, they managed just one goal from seven instances.

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It was a power-player strike which saw Josh Smith give Bracknell the lead at the Chiefs' temporary home at Blackburn, but they trailed 2-1 by the first break with Lewis Houston and Richard Bentham, on power-play, replying for the hosts, who extended their lead in the second period with an Adam Barnes brace.

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Will Stead did manage a second for Bees in the 53rd minute, but just two goals from 39 shots was a very disappointing return against a side who had conceded 20 goals in two games last week, followed by another 10 at Romford-based Raiders on Sunday.

Bees withdrew netminder Adam Goss in the last minute, but this almost immediately led to Andres Kopstals firing into an empty net to complete a night to forget for the visitors.

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Sunday's game started promisingly with Aidan Doughty firing them into a seventh-minute lead against a fast-improving MK outfit, but Liam Stewart, a son of rock legend Rod, equalised with a power-play goal after 15 minutes.

The impressive Stewart helped set-up his side's second goal for ex-Bee Robin Kovar in the 22nd minute, but Ed Knaggs restored parity less than two minutes later.

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But MK moved into a 4-2 lead with two power-play goals in the 50th and 51st minutes from Tomas Kana and Cale Tanaka.

The goal burst continued with Roman Malinik making it 4-3 in the 56th minute, only for Leigh Jamieson to regain the visitors' two-goal advantage less than half a minute later, but shortly afterwards, Harvey Stead netted a fourth for the Bees to set up a grandstand finish.

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There could easily have been more goals with MK goalie Dean Skinns producing superb saves to deny Malinik and Bees' man-of-the-match Dominik Gabaj.

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During a scramble in front of the net, Malinik looked to have found the net again, but the puck flew back out just as quickly as it went in and no goal was signalled.

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So at the end of a thoroughly entertaining game, Lightning managed to hold on to secure their eighth win in their last nine games.

With Raiders beating Leeds 10-6, Bees now find themselves second-from-bottom of the table although with the same number of points, 25, as Raiders. They are 10 clear of tailenders Leeds.

Bees visit second-placed Swindon this Saturday (6.15pm) before hosting Peterborough Phantoms, who are fourth, on Sunday (5.30pm).

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