Great Britain were beaten 4-1 by Czechia in their fifth game at the World Championship in the O2 Arena in Prague.
GB produced another spirited performance against the eighth-best team in the world with Evan Mosey scoring in the second period, but the hosts proved too strong as they secured fifth victory.
Sam Jones and Cam Critchlow returned to the line-up as they replaced Josh Tetlow and Cole Shudra. Ben Bowns started between the pipes with Lucas Brine as back-up.
Czechia lead by two at first intermission
Bowns denied Roman Cervenka on the breakaway but Lukas Sedlak popped home the rebound to put Czechia ahead (2:18).
Moments after Robert Dowd shot just wide for GB, Jakub Krejcik made it 2-0 when he buried the puck in the top corner from left-point (4:46).
Bowns made big saves to deny Libor Hajek and Martin Necas and at the other end, Mosey twice went close on the powerplay while Robert Dowd and Liam Kirk also saw their shots saved.
Mosey scores for GB but hosts increase lead in second period
Czechia scored their third on a two-on-one break 36 seconds after the restart as Sedlak converted at the backdoor (20:36).
GB got on the board on the powerplay when Ben O’Connor and Kirk combined to set-up Mosey on the doorstep for his fifth international goal (22:17).
The hosts restored their three-goal advantage with superb puck movement which ended with a one-timer in the slot from Ondrej Kase (32:15).
GB create chances but Czechia secure victory
Bowns made a superb save to stop Roman Cervenka short-handed, while Kirk went close for GB on the same powerplay.
Sean Norris, playing against the country where his mum was born, had a chance midway through the third period as GB continued to create chances.
Czechia saw out the victory as they returned to the top of Group A with 15 points from six matches.
GB have no game tomorrow (Sunday) but complete the group stage with matches against Norway on Monday and Austria on Tuesday.
Great Britain World Championship schedule and results
Saturday 11th May – Great Britain 2-4 Canada – Goals: Liam Kirk, Ben O’Connor
Sunday 12th May – Finland 8-0 Great Britain
Wednesday 15th May – Switzerland 3-0 Great Britain
Friday 17th May – Great Britain 3-4 Denmark – Goals: Liam Kirk, Cade Neilson, Nathanael Halbert
Saturday 18th May – Czechia 4-1 Great Britain – Goal: Evan Mosey
Monday 20th May – Great Britain v Norway – 16:20 (15:20 UK)
Tuesday 21st May – Austria v Great Britain – 12:20 (11:20 UK)