Lukas Smital praised his side’s desire and determination after Bracknell Bees preserved their 100 per cent start to the season on home ice.
Frantisek Bakrlik, player-coach Smital, Milan Kostourek and Matt Towalski all netted as the hosts outscored their near neighbours 4-1 to record a third successive win at the Hive last Sunday.
And while happy to see his charges notch up another comfortable success, Smital was delighted to see Bees produce what he felt was the most disciplined performance of the campaign to date.
He said: “It is always good to see a strong game and we are starting to play some more consistent hockey.
“Okay, it is still early in the season but these are all good signs.
“As long as we keep a tight defence our team is always capable of scoring goals, not all the time but the threat is there.
“I thought our penalty kill (on Sunday) was strong and we killed off a five-v-three, which was pretty good.
“I just thought our desire in general was good and I am pleased we played a disciplined game of hockey for 60 minutes.”
Having seen off an early powerplay, Bracknell broke the deadlock via an unassisted strike from in-form Bakrlik in just the third minute.
Having now struck 15 times in front of the home faithful already in the league this term, the supporters did not have to wait long for goal number 16 to arrive.
Making it 2-0 was Smital, who broke away to extend the advantage – and the contest was still less than 10 minutes old.
Both teams were to fall into penalty trouble as the game progressed, but neither side was able to make the most of having the extra man.
Chances too were now at a premium, but the next opportunity to fall for the Bison, in the 28th minute, saw Ciaran Long half the deficit.
And it was a tidy finish by the player, who danced his way past numerous challenges before catching Alex Mettam in the Bees’ goal by surprise.
The assists went to former Bracknell forward Ryan Watt and Stuart Mogg.
Opposite numbers Joe Baird (slashing) and Lewis Turner (cross-checking) took turns in the sin bin, but subsequent powerplays failed to yield any more goals.
It was here when Bracknell were also punished for having too many men on the ice, so found themselves having to tackle a five-on-three, which they killed off admirably.
One of Bees’ strengths this season has been their work going forward, and their attacking arsenal combined to great affect once again later in the second stanza when Antonov and Towalski combined to tee up Kostourek to restore the two-goal cushion.
The third period would see both teams cancel each other out for long spells, but from a sudden burst of energy the home side killed off any faint hopes of a Basingstoke comeback.
Finishing off a move involving both Kostourek and Antonov was Towalski, who rattled in a third goal in as many games fourteen minutes form time.
According to his coach, racking up points is just deserves for Towalski, whom Smital thought “was great” for Bracknell on Sunday and is “picking up from where he left off last year”.
The man of the match awards went to Mettam for Bees and Stuart Mogg for the Bison.
Coach Smital is now preparing his side for the visit of Manchester Phoenix tomorrow night (6pm), where a fourth straight win at the Hive is very much on the agenda.
“We just need to focus on our own game and if we execute our plays like we did on Sunday than this is going to be a tough place for anybody to come here and we want it to be like that on Saturday,” said Smital.
“Every game is going to be hard for us, but if we approach it right it is going to be uncomfortable for anyone coming here.”
Bees are then on the road at Telford Tigers on Sunday (5.30pm).
Additional reporting by Fiona-George Smith.
