Bracknell

As the season enters its final quarter, Bracknell jockeying for position and the race to ensure a play-off berth intensifies.

The Isle of Wight team may have broken one of the longest losing streaks on record on Saturday when beating Sheffield - but it is now official, they have no chance of the play-offs. Similarly,Chelmsford and Solihull are almost certainly out.

At the other end of the table, Guildford need just four more wins from their remaining 12 matches to confirm the league title.

For the rest? Well, ten points separate second to tenth place, with only the top eight going on to the post season competition and the chance to play at Coventry on Easter weekend.

Last weekend Bracknell had two wins to tie them with the Jets in second, and Peterborough also took maximum points to lift them into the top eight.

This Saturday,Slough play their third fixture against Chelmsford at the Hangar before a crucial fourth meeting, at Bracknell, against the Bees.

Chelmsford Chieftains are suffering at the moment. Two weeks ago they only had 11 skaters available and although they have players coming off the sick list, I do not expect the Jets to have any problems.

The recent 9-3 Jets' victory flattered the Essex side and they only scored two goals last weekend, one in each game, as they were comprehensively beaten by Bracknell and Peterborough. They will playing for pride, however, so don't expect them to go down without a fight.

The Bees on their own ice, for second place, is a mouthwatering prospect. Assuming that Slough collect two points from Chelmsford, they will go into the game in second spot as Bracknell do not have a game on Saturday. But the Bees will therefore be fresher on their John Nike rink.

They are also on something of a roll right now. Having recently made the finals of the Premier Cup (against Hull) they also look as though they are through a 'sticky patch' in the league.

With so many ex-Jets in the team, the local rivals will be up for this one. Last time the Bracknell Bees played the Jets, Slough came out 5-4 winners with debut goals from Stu Simmons and Warren Rost, as well as markers from Zoran Kozic, Scott McKenzie and Gary Wishart. Prior to that game, in early December,the Jets had lost to Bracknell twice, both times by the odd goal.

Matt Foord has joined his fellow exJets Scott Moody,Adam Bicknell, Adam Greener and Nicky Chinn, with Slough junior Shaun Thompson now a regular Bee, after being released by Basingstoke.

Like the Jets, Bracknell are under new management this season. They have high quality imports in Lukas Smital, Jan Milchar and netminder Steve Briere, and are well coached and motivated by one of the nice guys in hockey,Mike Ellis.

There are bound to be some divided loyalties in the crowd for this one. And definitely no predictions from me.

ic Berkshire ~ Bracknell