Photo (C) Jo Loat
Final Score : Phantoms 2 Bison 4
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Brooks & Mr Hewitt
Lino’s : Mr Carrington & Mr Staniforth
After Saturday evenings pretty easy win over the Bees, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the trip to Peterborough, to face the Phantoms. It’s never an easy place to visit, with a small ice pad, a passionate & sometimes, hostile crowd, it’s not for the faint hearted.
The Bison went into the game, still missing D-men Adam Jones & Tom Banner. They were joined on sidelines by Jay King & speedster George Norcliffe, who both picked up knocks against the Bees & Hallam Wilson withdrew after warm-up, leaving the Bison bench alot thinner than normal.
If the task in front of them wasn’t already tough, it was going to be alot tougher now…
Jordan Lawday & Jordan Marr both started between the pipes, for their respected teams.
The game was only just under two minutes old, when Bison were awarded the first penalty of the evening, Liam Morris picking up a Hooking call (1.58). From the resulting powerplay, Lawday would be called upon to keep out a shot from Ales Padelek. Bison would successfully kill the penalty.
Phantoms first penalty would go to Petr Stepanek, for Tripping (5.59).
Bison almost opened the scoring, when Adam Harding came in on an odd man rush, but Marr made a good save to deny him. A few seconds later, Aidan Doughty levelled up the numbers on the ice, when he picked up an Interference call (7.27) to nullify Bison’s man advantage. Both teams would successfully kill their penalties.
Callum Buglass opened the scoring (11.06), when he made a charge forward. He got his shot off, but Jordan made the save. The puck was then picked up by Corey McEwan, who found Stepanek and his shot was saved, but the puck looped over Lawday and Buglass, who had stayed forward, swept the puck home over the line.
Bison had a few chances to tie it up, as Milton forced a blocker save by Marr, then speedy Cain Russell, found himself through, but just couldn’t find a gap between Marr’s pads and finally, Aidan Doughty almoat scored, but his backhand shot, jusr went inches wide.
Lawday faced quite alot of rubber, but kept out Phantoms advances.
At the first interval, the Phantoms led 1-0 and the shots on goal, were announced as.. Marr faced a lowly 6 shots, whilst Jordan faced a whopping 18 !
Into the second period now and Bison would set about trying to find a goal, that would get them back into the game. But it would Padalek again, bringing a good save from Lawday. Elliott Dewey sent Ryan Sutton free, but Sutts shot, just went agonisingly wide of the far post.
Then the Bison finally found a way to score. Liam Morris setting up Alex Roberts, who almost dipsy-doodled his way past Marr, but the puck lay on the goal line and Zack Milton was on hand to tap it home (25.28). Just over a minute later and the Bison scored again. Dewey finding Cain Rusell all alone in front of net, his shot was saved but slid right into the path of Adam Harding, who flipped the puck top shelf, in off, a diving Jordan Marr (26.40) to give the Bison a deserved lead. It was Cain’s first registered point as a Bison.. I predict there will be a few more, before the end of the season.
Then, Lawday made an amazing save, right on the goal line, but just managed to cover the puck before a couple of Phantoms players decide to have a whack and try to push the puck over the line. They celebrated as if the puck had gone in, but Mr Brooks was having none of it and waved off the goal, despite the Phantoms protestations.
Phantoms Corey McEwan, was next to take a trip to the penalty box, when he picked up a Hooking call (29.14), but Phantoms penalty killers did their job and they returned to full strength.
Then, Liam Morris was penalised, for Slashing (34.34), but like the Phantoms, Bison PK unit saw off the penalty successfully.
The ever impressing Cain Russell already having picked up an aaaist, very nearly opened up his scoring account, but once again his shot just couldn’t find a way past Marr. Bison were really pressing the Phantoms and Coach Tait almost extended our lead, when he found himself free in front of the Phantoms net. The puck became loose, which Ash took a couple of swipes at, but Marr’s pads denied him unfortunately.
Into the final minute of the period and Bison failed to clear their zone and were instantly punished. Tom Norton picking out Petr Stepanek and his bullet of a shot flew past Lawday into the net (39.42). Just not what they wanted so late in the period.
The buzzer sounded for the end of the period and both teams returned to their respective dressing rooms, sharing a 2-2 scoreline. Shots on goal were slightly better in Bison’s favour, with Marr facing 12 shots & Lawday facing only 10.
Into the 3rd period now and it really was all about, who could take the initiative and make their game plan work out. I was personally thinking, the longer we could keep the Phantoms at bay, could give us a slim possibility of maybe sneaking a goal, that may just bring us a win, but with the numerical player advantage in Peterborough’s favour, it was always going to be a tough ask.
But, 6 mins into the period and Bison scored the go ahead goal from almost nothing. Adam Harding & Liam Morris, doing all the donkey work, before the puck found it’s way to the stick of Aidan Doughty, who lost his marker, before swivelling and letting go a twisted wrister towards net. Not sure if Marr was unsighted or not, but the puck flew past him and nestled in the back of the net (46.01), bringing the few brave travelling Bison fans to their feet.
A minute later and Elliott Dewey picked up a Roughing call, which was a tad harsh, as seconds earlier Nathan Salem had thrown a punch at Liam Morris, but neither official saw that. Anyways, the Bison penalty killers were doing great, clearing the puck at every opportunity and Lawday was making every save, when called upon.
Just as Bison killed the penalty, Zack Milton replaced Dewey and was instantly picked out by a looped pass up ice and was clear through on a 2-on-0 attack, with Paul Petts backing up. Zack tried to go 5-hole on Marr, but he was denied by a very timely save and a great opportunity had gone for the Bison to extend the lead.
Into the final 10 mins now and Bison would pick up another soft penalty. Glen Billing was sent through and Ollie Stone was in very close attendance. Billing managed to get his shot off, just as both players slid to the ice, before wiping out Lawday in the Bison net. Mr Hewitt obviously felt Ollie was impeding Billing, but I didn’t really think it was that bad… Hey ho, it was called anyway, so Stone was given a Holding call (51.34).
Phantoms powerplay unit came out and they basically threw everything at Jordan between the pipes. Stepanek being the biggest threat, with his booming shot, which he unleashed on numerous occasions, one time it clattered Lawday’s mask, knocking it clean off.
Bison dig really deep and killed off the penalty. But there was no let up from the Phantoms. Every foray forward, ended up with a shot on goal, as they looked for that all important equaliser. They were relentless.
Into the final 2 minutes now and Phantoms threw caution to the wind and pulled Marr for the extra attacker on the ice. More pressure on the Bison goal followed and just as it seemed they were just about to score, Ales Padelek picked up a tired penalty, as he tripped Morris in the corner (59.32). With the face off in Phantoms zone, Marr returned to the net, Phantoms managed to win the draw and brought the puck out again, allowing Marr to scoot off & bring out another forward again.
Unfortunately, they lost control of the puck and Alex Roberts picked up the puck & brought it out of our zone, before wristing the puck towards net, which found the twine, but it needed the post to go in (59.54) to finally seal the “W” for the Bison. Tait & Morris assisting the goal.
The final few seconds ran down and as the buzzer sounded, the Bison had pulled off a remarkable, gutsy, hard fought, but ultimately, well deserved road victory.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting it, but recently, the Bison’s away form has been nothing short of brilliant.
Phantoms gave everything, but thankfully for us, just came up short.
Bison’s Alex Roberts & Phantoms Nathan Salem picking up the MoM beers !
Match Stats:
Phantoms : Stepanek 1+1, Buglass 1+0, Norton 0+1, Salem 0+1.
Nets : Marr 24/3 (87.50%) Empty Net 1/1
Bison : Harding 1+1, Roberts 1+1, Doughty 1+0, Milton 1+0, Morris 0+3, Dewey 0+1, Russell 0+1, Tait 0+1.
Nets : Lawday 44/2 (95.45%)
Shots on Goal : Phantoms 44 Bison 24
Penalties (PiMs) : Phantoms 6 Bison 10
