Final score: Basingstoke Bison 7-6 Bees IHC (League)
By Matthew Church
Saturday 6th November 2021
Bison MOM: Adam Harding – Bees MOM: Ryan Webb
Bison stats: Harding 2+1, Norcliffe 2+1, Baird 0+2, Doughty 0+2, Jones 1+1, Morris 1+1, Dewey 0+1, King 0+1, Martinec 0+1, Milton 0+1, Roberts 1+0, Sutton 0+1.
Netminder: Alex Mettam 28/6 (78.57%)
Bees stats: Gabaj 1+2, Webb 1+2, Baird 1+1, Smith 1+1, Bradley 0+1, Kelly 0+1, Ornmarker 0+1, Power 1+0, Stead 1+0.
Netminder: Adam Goss 40/7 (82.50%), Curtis Warburton 1/0 (100%)
PIM: Bison 37 – Bees 37.
SOG: Bison 41 – Bees 28
Refs: Cuglietta and Matthews – Linos: Earl and Sitch-Cunningham
Twenty four hours after the celebrations of Bonfire Night, fans of the GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison were expecting fireworks on the ice as the Herd welcomed fierce rivals, Bees IHC, down from Berkshire for a huge battle. Looking to kickstart their league campaign, the Bison were keen to avenge a recent defeat against the Bees and after killing off two early penalties, looked to take advantage as James Galazzi took a seat in the opposition penalty box. Disaster would strike, however, as the Bees broke 2-on-1 shorthanded and Michael Power (assisted by Kelly and Gabaj) tipped home at 17:37 for a 0-1 lead.
Determined to make amends, there was still just enough time for the Herd to fight back and level the scores heading into the first period break, import Alex Roberts (King, Sutton) was in the perfect place to deflect home a long range effort at 19:21.
Fresh from ending the opening frame on a high, the home side were looking to make momentum count and at 20:36, they did just that. In a rich vein of form, Welsh wizard Adam Harding (Jones, Baird) scored in a similar fashion to the Herd’s first goal, placed at the back post and expertly tipping home to put his side 2-1 ahead. The lead would not last long though, as the Bees hit back less than 2 minutes later when nifty forward Ryan Webb (Smith, Baird) slid through on net and tucked home at 21:59, tying the contest at 2-2.
The next goal would not appear until 31:59 and came from an unlikely source, former Bison defenceman Joe Baird (Webb) fired in a speculative effort from distance which took an unlucky deflection off a Bison stick and flew past Mettam in net, handing the Bees a 2-3 advantage.
(C) Jo Loat
Once again, the Bison would need to produce some magic to keep themselves in the game and as the middle period ticked on, they would duly oblige with two goals in barely over a minute. Firstly, superstar George Norcliffe (Baird, Harding) would produce the Herd’s first and only powerplay goal of the night at 37:24, standing on the edge of the crease and tipping home a blue-line blast to level the score at 3-3. Next, it was the turn of defenceman Adam Jones (Martinec, Milton) to join the scoring fun as the Bison broke 2-on-1 and he slammed home a pass from import-Martinec to the delight of everyone in attendance at 38:25, putting his team 4-3 ahead going into the second break.
Buckle up everyone, we’re in for a wild 3rd period! The visitors brought themselves level early on as Josh Smith (Gabaj) scored a wonderful powerplay goal at 41:22, sniping top shelf on Mettam’s near post, levelling the scores at 4-4. Fortunately, the Herd would begin to dominate and went on a run of three straight goals, beginning with a beauty at 44:31 from the speedy Liam Morris (Dewey) as he flew down the left wing before firing past Goss at the near post, restoring the Bison lead at 5-4. DJ Bavy had hardly begun announcing the Herd’s fifth goal when the home side sent the fans into raptures as they scored a 6th goal just 15 seconds later. Another man currently on fire, George Norcliffe (Morris, Doughty) was credited with the goal after a shot was spilt by Adam Goss in the Bees net, and the puck trickled over the line, leaving the Bison 6-4 in front. A few minutes later at 51:07 the home side would increase their lead again, when man of the match Adam Harding (Doughty, Norcliffe) finished off a sublime move by tipping home a perfect pass from the corner by Aidan Doughty.
(C) Jo Loat
Frustration was beginning to show for the Bees and at 52:31 the first set of fights began when Bayley Harewood and Brendan Baird tussled in front of the benches, with the Bison man somehow picking up an extra penalty on top of Fighting for Instigation. Less than 30 seconds later and we were witnesses to more fireworks, a nasty hit by Galazzi on Jay King went uncalled and Liam Morris stepped in to defend his team mate. Simultaneously, Zack Milton and Josh Martin exchanged more than words by the Bison bench with the home favourite coming out on top after being provoked.
A final assault on the Herd’s net would see the visitors score two goals, flattering the scoreline somewhat. At 54:20, the impressive Dominik Gabaj (Bradley, Webb) used a powerplay to full effect and reduced the deficit to two goals. The Bees would score a sixth goal at 57:13 courtesy of William Stead (Ornmarker) but this is as close as they would come to the Bison, who held firm to see out the final few moments and claim a hugely feisty and enthralling 7-6 victory over their bitter rivals.
Next up at home for the Bison is a visit from the Swindon Wildcats on Saturday 13th November.
