Lightning eventually took the points with a 3-2 win against a struggling Bracknell Bees side – but they made hard work of the task.

In terms of possession the home side should have won by at least five clear goals. That they didn’t was down to Bees’ stifling defensive play – plus Lightning’s lack of ingenuity in breaking it down.

Bees’ goalie Carl Ambler was his team’s man of the match more by default than anything else. True he turned away 44 out of 47 shots – but too many of them were straight at him and too few were made under pressure.

With the first period ending 0-0 there was a sense of relief among the home faithful when Andre Smulter finally showed the imagination needed to beat Ambler with an upstairs shot after 34mins 46secs.

That was the score at the second break but Bees got back in the game with an equaliser from Peter Jasik on 42mins 30secs.
Lightning quickly responded though with Nick Poole setting up Adam Carr from the left – the captain taking two stabs at the puck before it went in on 44mins 1sec.

Back came Bees with Michal Pinc the provider for Nicky Watt at 51mins 10secs.

Gary Clarke then settled the points with a shot to the left of Ambler on 51mins 25secs.

In the final minute Bees tried three times to withdraw Ambler for the extra skater but were unable to do so under late pressure from the opposition.


MKL Goals

34.46 Smulter, Zatopek E
44.01 Carr,  Poole, Smulter E
51.25 Clarke, Kalgoum, Brittle E

Bracknell Goals

42.30 Jasik, Miles, Galazzi E
51.02 Watt, Pinc, Cesky E

MKL Penalties

2.44 McPherson, 2 mins, roughing
17.53 Christie, 2 mins, slashing
19.03 Kalgoum, 2 mins, tripping
20.00 Jamieson, 2 mins, slashing
33.21 Jamieson, 2 mins, slashing
51.48 Mettam, 2 mins, roughing

Bracknell Penalties

2.44 Pelikovsky, 2 mins, holding
7.08 Barker, 2 mins, delaying the game
9.06 Moore, 2 mins, cross checking
15.07 Watt, 2 mins, slashing
29.55 Waller, 2 mins, interference
33.21 Pelikovsky, 2 mins, hi sticks
44.55 Pinc, 2 mins, hi sticks
51.48 Watt, 2 mins, roughing

Shots on Goal

MKL – Mettam – 8, 7, 6 = 21
Bracknell – Ambler-11, 23, 13 = 47

Referee – Roman Szucs
Linesmen – Jason Earl, Tom Stephenson