Ice Hockey: Sharp Steelers are blunted by Bracknell

SHEFFIELD STEELERS scaled the heights and plumbed the depths at the weekend, ending Cardiff Devils' seven-game winning streak with a 6-4 home victory, before collapsing 5-3 to the basement club, Bracknell Bees, the following day, which was only the second win for the visiting Bees all season, writes Steve Pinder.

Tommy Plommer and Tim Cranston scored early goals against Cardiff, and the Steelers never fell behind, egged on by a full-house of 8,500. The match was Ian Cooper's first of the season for the Devils after a long-term knee injury, and he marked his return with a goal.

Bracknell's win was preserved by their goaltender, Mark Dowd, who allowed only three of 52 shots on goal past him, while the Bees pulled clear with two unanswered goals in the third period.

Bracknell drew 6-6 with Fife Flyers on Saturday, and Mark Morrison only equalised with Fife's final goal of the game after Bees lost their import Eric Legros to injury. The next day Fife beat Peterborough Pirates 10-7 at Nottingham to go a point clear at the top of the table. However, the Devils and the Murrayfield Racers, the sides below them, both have three games in hand.