Poor displays sent Milton Keynes Thunder to a pair of defeats at the weekend losing 4-1 at Peterborough Islanders before going down 7-2 at home to Oxford City Stars.

Thunder travelled to Peterborough for the English National League Cup game without several key players but it should not have affected the outcome to the degree in which it did with Islanders taking full advantage.

Islanders were on the offensive for most of the first period, forcing Thunder to desperately defend with goalie Mark Woolf having to be on top form to keep his side in the game.

However even Woolf could not stop Thomas Davis putting |Islanders in front at 6mins 43sec or James Pentacost extending the lead to 2-0 just before the break.

Thunder performed even more badly in the second session as they were outshot 25-4 but Woolf conceded just one goal from James Elwood on the powerplay at 23mins 3s.

The visitors finally got on the scoresheet in the third period with a rasping shot from Paul Jamieson on his side's fourth powerplay at 42mins 15secs. But Clint Herring restored Islanders' three goal cushion midway through the period as his side finished deserved 4-1 winners.

The next day's English National League clash saw Thunder get off to a great start with Keiron Goody laying off a fine pass for Josh Nicklin to slot home in the 10th second of the game.

But Oxford's equaliser did not take long in coming with Dean Francis making it 1-1 at 3mins 12secs.

Thunder restored the lead on 6mins 14secs when Nicklin's Storm Under 18 team-mate Jacob Heron put the finishing touch to a Carl Stevenson pass for his first goal for the side.

The team had hardly finishing celebrating when Oxford levelled 30 seconds later through Darren Elliot.

From then on Thunder's confidence disappeared as Oxford's grew and they went in front thanks to Grant Bailey midway through the period.

Awful was the only way to describe Thunder's second session when they were outshot two to one and conceded three goals without reply - two from Elliot and one by Joe Edwards as Stars went 6-2 in front.

The last period wasn't much better for the home side although they only conceded one more goal – to Nick Oliver while Oxford were short-handed.

Thunder need to reflect on the weekend, get back to basics and find drive and pride again.