Photo (C) Tony Sargeant
Final Score : Lightning 8 Bison 4
Refs : Mr Jarvie & Mr Matthews
Lino’s : Mr Earl & Mr Pullar
Your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, travelled to Buckinghamshire, to play the re-arranged league game, that had been cancelled back in October.
Team news before the game wasn’t the greatest coming out of the camp. Bison would be down to just 4 recognised D-men, with Adam Jones, Ollie Stone & Thomas Banner, all missing the game & Alex Sampford was missing again from the forwards. Loanee Cain Russel & Two-Way Elliott Lewis, would guest again.
So, it was a daunting task in front of the Bison, facing such a potent MK Lightning roster, boosted by the significant return of experienced James Griffin & Tom Carlon was drafted in too.
The puck dropped for this one and Alex Mettam would make the first save, a nice one from Stewart to settle the nerves. Bison would however get the first penalty of the evening, when Aidan Doughty was adjudged to have flipped the puck over the glass and a Delay of Game penalty was called (1.05).
On resulting powerplay, Mettam made another good save, to deny Stewart again. Bison would see off the remaing time and returned to full strength.
Lightning’s James Griffin, took the next penalty, when he was called for Tripping (5.45), but MK killed the penalty successfully. Adam Harding almost opened the scoring, when he saw his shot hit the bar, after he had seized the puck from a breakdown in play. Unfortunately, Lightning would open the scoring soon after. Ross Green releasing Tom Carlon down the left wing, he cut inside and got his shot off, which Mettam saved, but the puck fell to Stewart and he buried the rebound (9.24).
Image (C) Tony Sargeant
It was a good fast paced period of hockey, with both teams creating chances. Paul Petts getting a tip on a Liam Morris shot, but Smital was equal too it and then Mettam made an outstanding pad save, to deny Callum Field. Smital also denied, a good shot from Ryan Sutton.
Then, MK would double their lead. Livewire Liam Stewart, setting up Hallden Barnes-Garner to score (18.34), off a nice tip in front of Mettam. Bison would however find the net, just before the end of the period. A bit of a goalmouth scramble and Zack Milton was quickest to react, as he poked home the puck past Smital (19.04). Boot Chamberlain would pick up a penalty at the same time, as he punched Milton in the back of the head, just after he’d scored.
It’s the sort of thing expected from the highly volatile Chamberlain.
The period ended and it was MK taking a one goal advantage inti the first interval.
The 2nd Period started with Bison still on the PP and they only needed 11 secs to score a tying goal. Roberts & Tait setting up Milton, to score through Smital’s five-hole (20.11). It was a perfect start to the period, but unfortunately, it would just appear to spur on the Lightning.
A few minutes later and Bobby Chamberlain (28.02) would fire home, after a mix up in the Bison defence. Sam Talbot with an assist.
Edgars Landsbergs would give Bison a powerplay chance a few seconds later when he was called for Cross-Checking (28.27). However, as in a previous game at MK, Liam Stewart would score a short-handed goal (29.14) to kill the good mood amongst the fair amount of travelling Bison fans. Chamberlain & Talbot assisting the goal.
The Bison, still on the PP, made it count, when in form Alex Roberts found the net (30.19), after Harding & Tait had created the chance for him.
As in previous games against MK, this just seemed to fire up the Lightning players & they made the Bison pay, with a quick double goal tally. Sean Norris finishing top shelf on Mettam (31.16), unassisted and then Liam Stewart completed his hat-trick, with Knaggs & Barnes-Garner getting helpers on the goal (33.27). This prompted the Bison to call their “Time Out”….. !!
Soon after, Chamberlain would feel the need to ‘rabbit punch’ an opponent again, when he clipped Liam Morris, as he skated up ice (35.12). Then, a funny thing happened, as Mettsy had raced back to the Bison bench, on the delayed penalty call. As the play stopped and Alex made his way back to his net, Sam Talbot got in his way, so in true Mettsy style, he just went through him, leaving Talbot slumped on the ice. This did get the full approval of the travelling Bison fans…. LOL…
MK would kill the penalty and return to full strength.
Then another little flashpoint in the game, as Lightning’s Zaine McKenzie & Bison’s Zack Milton became embroiled, as McKenzie had unnecessarily got in a Bison players face, after the play had been whistled down. Both received minor ‘Unsportsmanlike’ penalties (38.14).
Into the final minute of the period and Lightning would get another penalty… this time Leigh Jamieson was called for High-Sticks (39.07).
Bison really needed to find the net on this occasion….. and they certainly did, although it didn’t go down well, with MK players & fans alike. Ashley Tait unloading a one-timer from the point, which Liam Stewart to full on the ankle and crumpled to the ice in pain. Bison continued to play on and Roberts & Tait set up Aidan Doughty, at the back post to fire home (39.39)… Lightnings players did protest the goal, but both officials waved away their protestations and the goal stood.
This brought an end to a pretty intense period, with the scoreline reading 6-4 in favour of the home side.
Image (C) Tony Sargeant
The 3rd period started, with both teams still playing 4-on-4, from the McKenzie/Milton penalty. This time elapsed and then MK’s James Griffin scored a pretty solo goal, as he waltzed through the complete Bison’s defence and slotted the puck home, past Mettam (40.23). Knaggs getting a lone assist on the goal.
A couple of minutes later, Tom Carlon was called for Tripping (42.03), but as in previous attempts, MK would kill the penalty successfully.
Both teams continued to create a few scoring chances, but the intensity of the game had cooled slightly… not surprising really, as I don’t think any team can actually continue at this rate, for the full 60 minutes of a game.
Coming up to halfway into the period and MK would put the final nail in Bison’s coffin, as they scored an 8th goal (49.48)…. Sam Talbot, from Chamberlain & Norris, although I actually think it was Chamberlain that scored, not Talbot, but that’s what was announced and it hasn’t been changed. This brought an end to Alex Mettam’s night, as Jordan Lawday, who had returned to the line-up, replaced Alex between the pipes for the remainder of the game.
Bison Captain, Elliott Dewey picked up a Roughing call (51.25), as he got involved in a coming together, after the game had stopped.
Bison penalty killers stood firm and managed to keep MK at bay and would kill the penalty and returned to full strength soon after.
The final two minutes came and went and at the final buzzer, Bison’s recent good run of winning games, had come to an abrupt end. But again, with only 4 d-men, it was always going to be tough for them.
As much as I dislike MK, you have to give to them for credit, for their display. They certainly are up there, in with a chance of winning the league, but obviously, I’m hoping someone else will beat them to that !!
Liam Stewart & Zack Milton both received the beers, as they were both selected, as Man of the Match.
Game Stats:
Lightning : Stewart 3+1, Chamberlain 1+2, Talbot 1+2, Barnes-Garner 1+1, Griffin 1+1, Norris 1+1, Knaggs 0+2, Carlon 0+1, Green 0+1.
Nets : Smital 57/4 (92.98%)
Bison : Milton 2+0, Roberts 1+3, Doughty 1+1, Tait 0+2, Harding 0+1,.
Nets : Mettam 40/8 (80.00%)
Lawday 7/0 (100%)
Shots on Goal : Lightning 47 Bison 57
Penalties (PiMs) : Lightning 14 Bison 6
