AS weekends go, it was always likely to be tough for Bradford Bulldogs, facing back-to-back games against NIHL North Two leaders Telford Tigers and, in Sutton Sting, a team pushing hard for the play-offs.

It proved to be just that, going down 7-1 on home ice against Telford, while their struggles on the road continued with a 6-2 defeat at Ice Sheffield.

Having top scorer Josh Stockton missing all weekend was another blow for a Bulldogs team low on confidence and rooted to the bottom of the standings.

All hopes when returning at the start of the year of a push for the play-offs now seem gone, with Andy Brown’s team in a straight shoot-out to avoid finishing bottom with Nottingham Lions, who are ahead in seventh by just the one point.

Against Telford, a poor first period allowed the leaders to go into the break 4-0 ahead, the deadlock being broken by Connor Keyes when he beat Sam Bolwell in her top left-hand corner with just 2.19 on the board.

The lead was doubled at 7.09 by Charlie Webb before a double strike from Liam Bartholemew put the visitors firmly in control, the first being on the power play at 13.29 with his second coming just over two minutes later.

The second period saw a much better effort from the Bulldogs, proving a good match for their higher-ranked opponents.

Chances were still hard to come by for the hosts - there were just five all period - but one of them was taken to offer hope of a comeback when Connor Medley scored on the power play at 37.43.

But all hope of taking something from the game disappeared when Telford rattled in three goals in as many minutes.

Bartholemew sealed his hat-trick at 45.39 and, after Michael Jones had made it 6-1 at 46.37, he grabbed a fourth just under two minutes later.

A Sunday trip to Ice Sheffield offered the Bulldogs a quick chance to bounce back but, again, their struggles in front of the net undermined their hard work, Sutton eventually running out 6-2 winners.

Once again, a poor start had them chasing the game from an early stage, going behind to a Matt Jeffcock strike at 2.15 before Morgan Glasby took advantage of a power play to double the lead at 4.26.

The Bulldogs were made to pay for taking another penalty, this time Ben Darbyshire on a slashing call, when Sting captain Lawson Glasby made it 3-0 at 13.59, and there in no mood to rest as they cruised to a 6-2 victory.