THE Basingstoke Bison suffered their worst home defeat against the Bracknell Bees since 2004, as they lost 5-2 to their local rivals on Saturday night.

The Herd who have blown hot and cold since the start of the season, turned in another poor performance, as they were soundly stung by Bracknell, who deserved the win.

The opening session was a close affair, with the best chance being a Tomas Karpov breakaway saved by Alex Mettam After the first break, Mettam produced an even better save to deny Ryan Sutton from an excellent centring pass from Jaroslav Cesky.

The home side then opened the scoring, as Aaron Connolly was found all alone on the blue line by Kurt Reynolds and he skated into score at 28:59.

However, the Bees hit back and within three minutes led 2-1.

Man of the match Steve Osman tied the game from close range and then Jan Bendik fired in from the blue line.

It could have been 3-1 by the second buzzer, but Dean Skinns made a great save to deny James Galazzi, after a defensive give-up in front of him.

The closest the Herd came to level things was when the Herd’s man of the match Josh Smith laid the puck back to Dan Scott, but his shot could only find the pads of Mettam.

The final session saw the sides swap chances on early powerplays, before the Bees scored the decisive third goal.

Tom Avery’s blue line shot hit the shin of a Bison defender and fell kindly for Shaun Thompson to rifle home.

After Hallam Wilson and Daniel Lackey both had shots saved from Mettam, the home side had a real let off as Stuart Mogg gloved the puck out of the goal crease after Josh Martin went close.

The game as a contest was ended at 48:25, after the Bees took just three seconds to convert a too many men on the ice penalty, as Frankie Bakrlik crashed a shot in from the blue line.

Bracknell’s fifth goal was the best of the match, as Bakrlik scored with a superb shorthanded strike on his back hand, as he placed the puck over Skinns’ shoulder.

The Herd side then scored a last-minute consolation goal, on another powerplay as Sutton netted from Ashley Jackson.

The defeat their fourth in the National Cup, now leaves the Bison with an awful lot of work to do to make the semi-finals of this competition.

Bison head coach Doug Sheppard said: “It was another disappointing night and we played badly again. We are breaking all the wrong records at the moment leaving us a lot to do to qualify for the National Cup”

Tonight, they turn their attentions to the Autumn Trophy, as they travel to the Sheffield Steeldogs for a game which has a 5.30pm face-off.