Final Score : Lightning 6 Bison 3
Image (C) Tony Sargent
Wednesday 27th October 2021
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Jarvie & Mr Matthews
Lino’s : Mr Earl & Mr Kowal
Following a very disappointing performance from the guys in Telford on Sunday, the GalxC Cooling Services Basingstoke Bison travelled to Milton Keynes on Wednesday evening, to play the re-arranged, final Autumn Cup game.
The game was basically a dead rubber, as neither team could quality for a Semi-Final place. However, it was our first time of playing the Lightning this season. And also, it would be the first opportunity for Bison Coach Ashley Tait, to come up against Sean Norris & Sam Talbot, who had decided to join MK late on, after agreeing to re-join the Bison earlier this year. There was a good number of travelling Bison fans, the most this season.
From the start, Bison came out strong and were rewarded with a quick goal, when Aidan Doughty slipped a pass to Liam Morris, who skated in and let a shot go, that beat Branson Stones, over his shoulder. Goal was timed with only 1.30 on the clock. But as has happened alot this season, the officials called a penalty on the Bison, when Zack Milton was given a Tripping call (2.18). Bison successfully killed off the penalty and returned to full strength.
MK would get on the board (6.08), when Bobby Chamberlain & Sean Norris set up Sam Talbot, who beat Dan Weller-Evans, who was playing instead of Alex Mettam in net.
Bison’s Zack Milton would get penalised again, this time, a Hooking call (8.25). But as before, the Bison penalty killers would see off the penalty successfully.
The Bison, were again called for a penalty. Jay King the culprit this time, with a Tripping call (11.24).
The Lightning PP unit came out and it wasn’t long before they took the lead, when that man Sam Talbot scored his and his teams second goal (12.00). Norris & Ed Knaggs assisting the goal.
Bison would get an instant chance to reply though, when MK’s highly rated new two-way signing, Milique Martelly, received a Hooking call (12.27), but MK would kill the penalty well.
The officials would choose to again penalise the Bison, when import Alex Roberts was given a Hooking call (14.21), but the penalty killers did their job and Bison returned to full strength. That would be all the action for the period and at the first break, the hosts led 2-1. Shots on Goal were 7 on Bison & 8 on Lightning.
Into the 2nd period and it was pretty much end to end hockey for first few minutes. Weller-Evans & Stones keeping the puck out of the net, for their respected teams.
However, Bison would level scoreline, with good build up play by Paul Petts,. He would find Alex Roberts, who in turn set up an on-rushing Adam Jones (27.08), who despatched the puck between Stones’s pads. A few seconds later, Chamberlain would get given a Roughing call and Bison were back on the powerplay. Unfortunately, they couldn’t take advantage and Lightning killed the penalty.
It would be the hosts who would regain the lead. Halden Barnes-Garner snap shot appeared to be saved by Dan, but agonisingly the puck rolled free in the crease and Edgars Landsbergs (33.19) was on hand to finish, with a easy tap in.
Just over a minute later (35.03) and an incident fired up the game.
Alex Sampford collided with Talbot, which appeared to be an OK hit, but it left Talbot sprawled on the ice. There was no call on the play, so it carried on. However, well renowned ‘loose cannon’ Bobby Chamberlain took exception and set upon Sampford just in front of the Bison bench. The resulting penalties were, each player receiving 5 minute Fighting majors, but Chamberlain also picked up a Game Misconduct and his night was done. This did appear to spice the game up a bit.
MK’s Adam Laishram was called for Hooking (35.27), but that was killed successfully. Then Bison’s Filip Martinec (37.34) felt the wrath of Mr Matthews… firstly picking up a pretty innocuous Slashing call, but because he reacted to the call, Matthews then handed him an additional 10 min Misconduct call.
Bison would kill off the penalty and returned to full strength, just before the buzzer sounded to end the period, with MK leading 3-2.
Into the 3rd period and Bison went in search of a goal, to tie the scoreline and they thought they had done so, when Adam Jones scored, but MK nettie Brandon Stones, appealed to the official that he had been fouled, just before the puck entered the net. Again, there was no call in the play and it looked like the goal would stand……. however, after a little conflab between all 4 officials, by the timekeepers bench and the goal was wiped out…. just our luck !!
Lightning would pick up a penalty, as Landsbergs was given a Hooking call (45.34). Bison used the extra man to their advantage and after some really good pressure, they finally scored. Doughty finding Tait on the point and his ferocious shot came back off the back board, back into play and Zack Milton was on hand to fire home the loose puck (47.25).
Unfortunately, there’s a saying… that you’re at your most vulnerable, when you’ve just scored… and boy did that come true. As Bison were pressing for another goal, the puck came out of the zone and Talbot was quickest to the puck and skated in on a 2-on-1. He waited til the last second and snapped a wrist shot past Weller-Evans (48.19).
Bison now found themselves behind the 8 ball and needed to get the offence going again.
But, it wasn’t long before Lightning put the Bison to the sword. A really bad turnover pass in the Bison zone, found Liam Stewart all alone in front of net and he scored unaasiated with ease (51.35).
That was pretty much the game done and as we entered the final 2 minutes, Brendan Baird picked up a lame, Holding the Stick call (58.20), which MK scored on, from the resulting powerplay (58.56). Adam Laishram assisted by Stewart and that was the final nail in the Bison coffin.
Man of the Match – MK : Sam Talbot & Bison : Alex Roberts
Stats :
Lightning : Talbot 3+0, Stewart 1+1, Laishram 1+0, Landsbergs 1+0, Norris 0+2, Barnes-Garner 0+1, Chamberlain 0+1, Knaggs 0+1, Martelly 0+1.
Nets : Stones 43/3 (93.02%)
Bison : Jones 1+0, Milton 1+0, Morris 1+0, Doughty 0+2, King 0+1, Petts 0+1, Roberts 0+1, Tait 0+1.
Nets : Weller-Evans 27/6 (77.78%)
Shots on Goal : Lightning 27 Bison 43
Penalties (PiMs) : Lightning 33 Bison 27
