CHELMSFORD Chieftains took up the challenge last weekend when they faced tough back-to-back games against Premier League opposition.

And after putting on a good performance in Basingstoke on Saturday, going down 4-1 against last seasons Premier League Play-off champions the Bison, they put on a great showon Sunday at Riverside against Bracknell Bees.

It was another 4-1 scoreline, but this time at the end of the game they were at last celebrating victory over a Premier League team.

Saturday’s game in Basingstoke saw Chieftains take an early lead through Ross Brears on 8:47, but at 16:49 ex- Chieftain Aaron Connolly equalised.

The home side took the lead midway through the second period, a powerplay goal from Joe Baird and just three minutes later Ciaran Long gave his team a two-goal cushion.

Chieftains tried desperately topull a goal back, but when Long scored his second at 46:57 the game was effectively over.

The game ended 4-1 with the Bison demonstrating their class, but the Chieftains had put on a good performance, gaining the respect of both the opposing players and fans.

This was a massive boost for the team and they took to the ice on Sunday at Riverside looking confident as they faced their second challenge of the weekend, the visit of the Bees from Bracknell.

The first period was a goalless affair with both Euan King in the Chieftains’ net and Tom Annetts in the Bees’ net dealing with everything that was thrown at them.

But early in the second period Chieftains struck early with two quickfire goals from in form forward Cameron Bartlett and Danny Hammond.

The Bees responded almost instantly with their captain Matt Foord putting his side on the scoreboard. It was nowgame on and it was turning into a physical encounter.

With a little overaminute of the second period remaining Bartlett was on target again.

In the final period the Bees pressurised the Chieftains’ defence as they looked to make the come back. But the home defence was resilient and determined to hold on to the advantage they had worked so hard to gain.

Once again for the third time in as manyweeks at Riverside the travelling team pulled the netminder with two minutes remaining.

Once again the Chieftains had to face an extra skater as the Bees threw caution to the wind. But with this tactic there is always a chance it will backfire and with seconds of the game remaining it was the end of the road for Bracknell.

Martin Piecha and Ross Brears combined with the latter sliding the puck along the ice, between