Image (C) Jo Loat
FINAL SCORE : WILDCATS 10 BISON 2 (1-0, 4-0, 5-2)
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Brooks & Mr Ions
Lino’s : Mr Edwards & Mr Sore
After a vastly improved performance & richly deserved victory over Swindon on Boxing Day, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the short trip along the M4 to Wiltshire, to play the away leg of back-to-back games versus the Wildcats, over the festive period.
The Bison, who welcomed back Liam Morris from suspension, the previous evening, were now missing import Marcel Balaz (Suspended). Also missing were Paul Petts & Roman Cathcart from the line-up.
Renny Marr & Jordan Lawday would both get the nod, to start in nets.
After getting played off the ice the previous evening, the Swindon Wildcats would be going all out for quick revenge, in front of their fans, in their own building.
The home fans would be cheering first, when Chris Jones (Cowley, Tower), lit the lamp, timed at 4.40.
A few seconds later, Wildcats drew the first penalty, when Sam Bullas picked up an Interference call (4.59), but the penalty killers would successfully kill the penalty.
A couple of minutes later, there was a challenge on Balint Pakozdi, by Brendan Baird. The Bison player picked up the original Cross-Check call, but then both players were given 2 mins for Roughing (10.45), giving Swindon a powerplay chance.
Just before the end of the penalty, Wildcats top forward Tomasz Malasinski, levelled the players on the ice, as he was given a minor call for Interference (12.17). Bison returned to full strength and had a little powerplay opportunity of their own, but the Wildcats would see off Malasinski’s penalty and it was all square again, player wise on the ice.
Just before the end of the period, Bison’s Jay King was called for Slashing (17.53), but Bison would see off the penalty.
At the first interval, Swindon went in, with a slender 1-0 lead.
Into the 2nd period and it wouldn’t be long, before another clash of players from both teams, resulted in penalties. But as before, the Bison would get the extra call. Steve Whitfield & Gaël Lubwele and then Zack Milton, all picking up Roughing minor calls (22.56).
Within 30secs, Swindon would double their lead, when player/coach Aaron Nell (Malasinski) netted on the PP (23.25).
Malasinski, would then pick up his second penalty of the evening, as he was called for Elbows (24.40). But, Wildcats would kill the penalty.
Swindon went further ahead, when Balint Pakozdi (Malasinski, Godfrey) scored (27.40), thus forcing Bison coach Ashley Tait, to call a Time Out !
Bison steadied the ship for a couple of minutes, but then Wildcats added another goal. Chris Jones (Cowley, Tower) with his second of the evening (32.18).
Then another deja vu call… Aidan Doughty & Balint Pakozdi became involved, but strangely, Doughty would get an extra 2 mins, all for Roughing (34.04).
Sadly, when the Wildcats PP unit is clicking, it usually ends in a goal.
This would be the case again, when Tomasz Malasinski (Jones, Tower) added a 5th for Swindon (34.50)
That would be enough for Coach Tait, to pull Lawday and send in Alex Mettam.
There just wasn’t anything Bison could do to stop the Wildcats and at the second period break, the home side went in with a comfortable 5-0 lead, which was looking pretty unassailable.
The good number of travelling Bison fans, must’ve been wondering, where the team was, that dominated the same Wildcats side the previous evening.. but credit to them, they were in great voice, despite watching their team capitulate in front of their eyes.
Into the third period now and I think most Bison fans, just wanted to see Bison to score and for Marr to lose his shut-out.
The visitors would get an early powerplay chance, when Sam Godfrey picked up a Slashing call (44.08).
From the resulting powerplay, Bison forward Alex Sampford (Landsbergs, King) would give the fans something to finally cheer, when he netted (44.24).
But, pretty much from the face off, Wildcats would go straight up and score again. Reed Sayers (Bullas, L Taylor) adding Swindon’s 6th (44.39).
Wildcats would then get awarded a penalty shot, with Malasinski through on goal, he was slashed by Liam Morris and went down, giving the refs very little option, but to call the pen shot. Malasinski would pick himself up, dust himself down and skate in and beat Mettam with ease (45.35), making it 7-1 to the home team.
Bison would again get another powerplay opportunity, when Russ Cowley picked up a Hooking call (45.56). During the powerplay, another fracas between the sides, ended in bigger penalties. Gaël Lubwele picking up a minor Holding call, but then got involved with Sam Godfrey, in which both players received 5 min Fighting majors, but Lubwele also picked up an extra Game Penalty for Fighting and his night was done.
Zack Milton was involved with Tyler Plews.
Plews (5+Game Fighting) followed Lubwele off the ice, whilst Zack Milton, only received a 10 min Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty (all penalties timed at 46.12).
A couple of minutes later and another flashpoint in the game. Josh Kelly checked to the ice by Loris Taylor, but then Brendan Baird follows in and Cross-Checks Taylor from behind, not once, but twice, quite high up the back and a skirmish ensued. The outcome was Taylor remarkably only given a minor Tripping call, but Baird picked up a minor Cross-Checking & also a major Match Penalty for Cross-Checking too and he was escorted from the ice (48.50).
This gave Wildcats a 5 min powerplay and the PP unit added another, with Colby Tower (Nell) scoring, timed at 50.21.
Bison managed to see out the remaing time on Baird’s major penalty and returned to full strength.
Into the final 5 minutes of the game and honestly just wanted the game to finish now, but Swindon weren’t finished scoring yet. Balint Pakozdi (Nell, Sayers) netting again (57.07), making in 9-1.
Weirdly, there was still time for another couple of goals.. first up was Alex Sampford (Kelly), netting his & the Bison’s 2nd goal (58.02).
Pretty much straight away from the face-off, Wildcats hit double figures, as Colby Tower (Nethersell, Cowley) netted his 2nd (58.32).
The remaining time ran down and as the final buzzer sounded, it bought an end to game, with the home team skating away with a very clinical 10-2 victory.
Sometime during or after the handshakes, young Oli Hemmings-Maher picked up a 10 min Misconduct penalty (60.00).
This result needs to be quickly erased by anyone connected to the Bison. Sometimes these results happen, but it’s best not to dwell on it. Just forget and move on to the next game….. Oh great, MK away !!
Josh Kelly picked up the beers for Bison, whilst Tomasz Malasinski was selected for the home team.
Match Stats:
Wildcats Stats : Tower 2+4, Malasinski 2+3, C Jones 2+1, Pakozdi 2+0, Nell 1+2, Sayers 1+1, Cowley 0+3, Bullas 0+1, Godfrey 0+1, Nethersall 0+1, L Taylor 0+1.
Nets : Marr (28/2)
Bison Stats : Sampford 2+0, Kelly 0+1, King 0+1, Landsbergs 0+1.
Nets : Lawday (28/5) Mettam (20/5)
PiMs : Wildcats 50 Bison 93
SoG : Wildcats 48 Bison 28
MoM Raiders : Tomas Malasinski
MoM Bison : Josh Kelly
Bison return to action this Friday evening, with a very tough Away trip to Milton Keynes, where they take on a strong Lightning side, vying for top spot in the table. The same two sides will battle it out again in Basingstoke, on New Years Day (Face Off – 5.30pm) .. Tickets are still available to purchase by clicking teh following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
