BRACKNELL Bees are this week preparing for two fixtures with table-topping Telford Tigers knowing the need to string two or even more wins together is becoming increasingly important, writes Dave Wright.
Last weekend, it was a similar story of collecting just two points, losing 5-4 at Peterborough before winning 3-2 at home to second-placed Swindon.
This leaves them ninth in the National League standings, three points behind Raiders, who currently occupy the last of the play-off slots. And four of Bees' remaining 12 fixtures are against the Romford-based club.
"There is still a lot of hockey to be played and I am hoping we can go on a run at the right time," said coach Doug Sheppard.
"We are playing well, but need to put a full 60 minutes together on a Saturday and Sunday."
He felt his side were unfortunate not to have secured their first four-point weekend as he felt they were the better team at Peterborough, having outshot them 40-31.
"I was really happy with our game last night, but luck wasn't on our side," Sheppard told the News.
"So it was nice to see the boys bounce back and find a way to win. We played two good games and it is a shame we came away from the weekend with only two points, but we are getting close (to four)."
On Saturday, Bees went behind to a Bradley Powering goal at 1.15, but Dominik Gabaj equalised at 2.48.
Corey McEwen restored the lead for Phantoms with a power-play goal at 8.16 and Petr Stepanek made it 3-1, also on the power-play at 13.08.
Gabaj converted a powerplay at 27.47 before Ales Padelek netted his side's fourth at 33.08, but Bees battled back to level with goals from Harvey Stead at 53.04 and Ryan Webb at 55.52.
The game could have gone either way, but it was McEwen who sealed the home side's win with 54 seconds left on the clock.
On Sunday, the TSI World-sponsored Bees stunned title-chasing Swindon Wildcats by taking the lead through Josh Ealey-Newman just 101 seconds into the game, and Aidan Doughty converted a power-play exactly midway through the opening period.
While Bracknell took the first-period honours, the second went against them as goals from Toms Rutkis at 32.08 (power-play) and 33.48 pulled the scores level.
Although out-shot 43-36, it was Bees who snatched victory with Doughty scoring his second goal of the game just after the 50-minute mark.
Bracknell, however, did enjoy some good fortune as the Wildcats hit the post four times.
Netminder Adam Goss, back from injury, had an outstanding game and was named Bees' man-of-the-match.
"His was a heck of a performance; he played better than their goalie," commented Sheppard.
"It was great to see Aiden score two goals as it hasn't come easy for him this year.
"But a lot of guys played well.
"We have now beaten Swindon two times on the trot and we now need to beat Telford again. We are going to need to show that bit of extra focus."
Bees face Telford at home on Saturday (6.15pm) and away on Sunday (6pm).
Tigers will be looking to get back to winning ways following two defeats last weekend, losing 3-2 in overtime at bottom-club Leeds Chiefs and 4-1 at home to seventh-placed MK Lightning in a match which saw several on-ice fights, with the two teams totting up 226 of penalty minutes.
They have lost their last four home games, yet still head the table by five points from Swindon.
Bracknell Hornets were involved in a remarkable match on Saturday, defeating Invicta Dynamos 4-3 with all goals coming in a four-minute spell in the final period.
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