Spearing’s Bees return stung by latest defeat
Streatham 7 Bracknell Bees 4
STREATHAM completed their second win over Bracknell in the space of two weeks with a 7-4 victory in London.
Bees suffered a shock 5-3 reverse in this fixture earlier this month and they could not turn the tables this time around despite a Frankie Bakrlik brace and goals from Jan Bendik and James Galazzi.
It marks a ninth straight defeat for Scott Spearing’s men, a run stretching back to early November and one which has seen them slip six points off the pace in the league.
There were more team issues going into the game as Shaun Thompson and Harvey Stead missed out through injury while Tom Avery, Carl Thompson, Danny Ingoldsby and Josh Tetlow were also all absent.
But there was a welcome return to action for Spearing for the first time since a work-related accident in October, while both Ealey-Newman brothers, Carl Graham and Jack Hayes were also added to the matchday squad.
Streatham started well, looking the more comfortable side and Bees were stung by a penalty to Graham early on which ruled him out of the match.
A scrappy first period eventually saw a goal as Ryan Webb turned in and it was 2-0 when Adam Carr also beat Alex Mettam.
Streatham were racking up the shots and went 3-0 up shortly into the second after a fine run and finish from Andreas Siagris.
Jacob Ranson quickly made it 4-0 before Josh Ealey-Newman teed up Galazzi to pull one back.
The hosts added a fifth before Bees grabbed their second goal with Bendik lashing in to give the away fans some hope at 5-2 down going into the final stanza.
But that hope quickly disappeared when Streatham made it 6-2 just 21 seconds into the third.
Two late Bakrlik strikes came in vain as Bracknell were defeated and stay fourth in the table.
Bees are back on the road on Saturday with a trip to Basingstoke Bison (6.30pm).