DESPITE icing a depleted squad Bracknell Bees gave a much improved show when they visited Peterborough Phantoms for the second successive weekend. They lost 2-0, compared to 8-2 a week earlier.

Bees were missing Josh Tetlow, Josh Smith and James Galazzi on Sunday, leaving them with 14 skaters plus net-minder Alex Mettam.

While Tetlow was named in the original squad, Smith received a late call-up to the Great Britain Under-20s roster for the the Division 1B World Championship tournament in Budapest which is taking place this week.

Bees pushed the Phantoms all the way in a close game which saw both sides amass a total of 37 goal attempts.

In fact, they outshot their hosts in the opening period 16-13 and it was even closer in the next 20 minutes, with Bees having 11 attempts, one fewer than their hosts.

But Peterborough did make one count, with Sam Towner breaking the deadlock seconds before the 30-minute mark.

Bees worked hard to get back on level terms, only to find home netminder Janis Auzins blocking their way.

Both goalies continued to be in top form in the final period as play swung from end to end, but Bees’ hopes of getting on level terms ended when Petr Stepanek doubled Peterborough’s advantage on 48:12.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, the outstanding Mettam was voted Bees’ player of the match.

In addition to goals, there was little to note in the way of penalties, with Bees trio Scott Spearing, Shaun Thompson and Lukas Smital each getting two minutes, while Owen James Griffiths was the only home player to visit the sin-bin.

It is now more than 20 matches since Bracknell last defeated the Phantoms and the two sides will meet again at The Hive on Thursday, December 29.

After just one game last weekend, it’s back to a double header for Smital’s men this week. They play Basingstoke Bison twice – away on Saturday (6.30pm) and home on Sunday (6pm) – and will be seeking their first win of the year against them.

The GB youngsters, who won a bronze medal in France last year, did not make the best of starts in Budapest, losing their opening two group games – 4-3 in over-time to Slovenia and 5-1 to hosts Hungary.

As the championships end on Saturday, Smital is hoping that Tetlow and Smith will be back in time for Sunday’s game with Bison.

This season’s two previous meetings both ended in a Basingstoke win.

Children under-16 will be admitted free to The Hive match providing they are accompanied by a paying adult.