A winner 11 seconds from the end of overtime gave Poland a 4-3 victory over Great Britain at the National Ice Centre on Saturday night.
It was the first of two international games between the two sides this weekend and they will meet again at the Skydome Arena in Coventry tomorrow (Sunday) at 5:15pm.
A crowd of 4,000 saw had seen GB battle back to tie the game two minutes from time to set up the extra period at the NIC.
Poland went ahead at 9:39 as Grzegorz Pasiut shot low past Ben Bowns for a first-period lead.
GB made the perfect response after the first intermission when Craig Peacock fired glove side past Rafal Radziszewski (21:43).
Jonathan Weaver’s strike from the bluleline (powerplay) at 39:39 gave GB a 2-1 lead after two periods.
Two powerplay goals in three minutes late on swung the game Poland’s way, as first Krystian Dziubinski fired in off the crossbar (54:26) and then Pawel Dronia’s deflected shot from the blueline deceived Bowns (57:26).
But Robert Farmer broke clear 17 seconds later to send the game to overtime (57:43).
Mateusz Bepierszcz found space in front to fire past Bowns to win the game at 64:49.
GB coach, Pete Russell, said: “It was a good test against a good team.
“They were tested and bent in the second period, but didn’t break.
“I was pleased with the defenisve effort, especially as we limited Poland’s high-percentage scoring chances.
“There were good showings all over the ice and in particular I thought the Garside, Phillips and Haywood unit looked good.
“Tomorrow we will look at the rest of the players in the squad, apart from Matthew Myers who is recovering from a virus.”
GB against Poland faces-off at 5:15pm tomorrow and limited tickets are available here http://iceaccount.co.uk/events/tickets_select?embed=1&client_id=7
If you can’t get to the game, a webcast available. Click here to buy http://www.cleancutsports.com/index.php/live-webcasts
Ends
GB scoring
Peacock & Weaver 1+1, Farmer 1, Lachowicz & O’Connor +1
GB netminding
Ben Bowns – 39 shots, 35 saves
Shots on goal
First period – GB 5, Poland 8
Second period – GB 11, Poland 13
Third period – GB 6, Poland 16
Overtime – GB 3, Poland 2
Total – GB 25, Poland 39
Powerplay
GB 1/4
Poland 2/6