Sunday Game Review – Raiders -V- Bison

Photo (C) 5 Hole Photography

Final Score : Raiders 4  Bison 7

By Nigel Simmonds

Refs : Mr Belfitt & Mr Hewitt
Lino’s : Mr Sitch-Cunningham & Mr Sore

After Friday nights demolition of Swindon Wildcats, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the trip to Romford, to face the Raiders IHC.

The Bison were missing Adam Jones & Bison Player/Coach Ashley Tait.

Michael Gray & Jordan Lawday would get the start, for their respective teams.

The puck dropped for the first period and it would Raiders that had an opportunity in the first minute, when Aaron Connolly almost scored, but the puck hit the side netting. However, the visitors would take the lead, when on form Adam Harding netted (2.47), with assists from Aidan Doughty & George Norcliffe.

A minute later and Raiders would pick up the first penalty of the evening, when Callum Wells was given a Hooking call (3.42). That brought out the Bison PP unit and it didn’t take long for them to capitalise with the extra man. George Norcliffe (4.15), getting a tip on an Alex Roberts shot, with Aidan Doughty also assisting.

A few minutes later and Raiders would pick up another penalty.  Import Lukas Sladovsky, with a Cross-Checking penalty (7.15) & once again, the Bison Powerplay took full advantage. Aidan Doughty scoring (7.22), when he fired home a loose puck, after Zack Milton had seen his shot saved. George Norcliffe picking up his second assist of the evening.

But, the Bison PP units weren’t finished yet. Another Raiders player going to the sinbin. This time it was JJ Pitchley, with a Cross-Check penalty (7.54). Adam Harding & Zack Milton making it tough for the Raiders defence and Aidan Doughty popped up and tapped home a simple chance (8.42) to give the visitors an incredible 4-0 lead, in under the first 9 minutes. This caused the shell-shocked Raiders bench, to use their Time Out.

The travelling Bison fans were loving it, but can only imagine, they were as shocked as the Raiders team, at what had gone before.

The break in play appeared to work more for the home team, as they came back out more focused, to get back into the game.

Bison would pick up their first penalty of the evening, when young defenceman Thomas Banner, was given a High-Sticks penalty (11.30).
Jordan Lawday was called upon a couple of times, when he denied Raiders attacks and the Bison saw off the penalty and returned to full strength.

Raiders kept pressing and although Lawday was doing well, the Raiders finally beat him. Erik Piatak & Jake Sylvester, getting the puck to ex-Bison Dan Scott on the point and his good shot beat Lawday (13.34). It looked like Jordan was a little screened, with Aaron Connolly stood in front of him.

Bison were penalised again, when Ollie Stone picked up a Tripping call (14.10), but Lawday and the Penalty Killers, would deny any opportunities, that Raiders produced and they killed the penalty successfully. However, Raiders would get another chance, when Liam Morris was called for Hooking (18.06), but he felt it was a really soft call, as he shook his head & smiled in disbelief, as he skated to the box. Again, Lawday and his defence stood firm, to see out the period, with Bison leading 4-1 at the break. Shots on Goal were, 14 on Raiders & 13 on Bison.

The 2nd period started, with only 7 secs of Raiders powerplay for Bison to kill off, which they did and returned to full strength. Within seconds of play though, the Bison would pick up another penalty.

Adam Harding, getting called for a Hooking call (20.29). He looked a little shaken, as he made his way into the penalty box, after he had ended up colliding with the goal frame, from the resulting penalty call.

The Raiders PP unit came out and went all out for a goal, but again Jordan Lawday was called upon to make crucial saves, to deny the home team. Bison killed off the penalty, but it wouldn’t be long, before another Bison player would get called.. Zack Milton picking up a Tripping call (25.32). Again, the Raiders attack was in search of the next goal and their efforts were rewarded, when Dan Scott & Brandon Ayliffe both tested Lawday with good shots, before the puck fell to Piatak and he saw his first shot saved, but managed to get enough power on the rebound, to force the puck past Lawday (29.01).

Aaron Connolly was given a Hooking call (29.23), but Bison couldn’t create anything, to test Gray, in the Raiders net and they got back to full strength.

Then, Raiders Callum Burnett, picked up a Slashing call (33.39) and again, the Bison powerplay of the first period, wasn’t to be found and they produced no real quality chances.

In fact, Raiders almost scored, when Piatak charged down a shot and skated off up ice all alone. He tried to outdeke Lawday, but Jordan followed him and made the timely save.

Raiders were proving the much better team in this period and they killed off the remainder of the penalty successfully.

Thomas Banner would pick up another penalty, this time a Tripping call (36.50), allowing the Raiders to lay siege on the Bison net again. Lawday came up with more big saves, but the Bison were really struggling to clear their zone and with only a few seconds remaining in Banner’s penalty, Raiders found a way to get the puck in the net. Lawday denying both Thonas Relf & Ollie Baldock, before the puck fell to Lukas Sladovsky and he didn’t miss, for the powerplay goal (38.09).

That brought it back to a one goal game. The remaining time ran down in the period and at the second interval, the scoreline read, Raiders 3 Bison 4… Shots on Goal were announced as, 17 on Lawday and a very disappointing 6 on Gray. That basically tells it’s own story, of who was on top in that period.

After an exhilarating 1st period from the Bison, the Raiders fought back in the 2nd and were now, definately back in it and had the momentum going into 3rd. It was going to be an interesting period…  A one goal game and all to play for, especially for the Raiders, as they’re still battling with the Bees, for that final play-off spot, to make the post season.

Unfortunately for the Bison, Adam Harding took no further part in the game. Hopefully, everything will be OK and it’s nothing serious. It will be a big loss to the team, if he’s sidelined for the next few weeks.

The Raiders started the period well and it wasn’t long, before they tied the scores.. Dan Scott & Brandon Ayliffe creating enough space for Erik Piatak, to get free and launch a fierce wrist shot, bar down, past Lawday (42.41). Credit where credit due… at 4-0 down, Raiders looked absolutely out if it. But, they just kept chipping away and took a couple of chances, which maybe, Bison could’ve cleared, but Raiders battled back hard.

It looked like Raiders were now in control and could even possibly get a result….. but, they picked up a penalty soon after. Sean Barry picking up a Tripping call (43.32) .

Out came the Bison PP unit and immediately from the face-off,  they were back in front. Alex Roberts (43.35) firing home past Michael Gray, with George Norcliffe assisting. There was a big sigh of relief from the travelling Bison faithful.

Another penalty was forthcoming… this time, it was Bison Captain Elliott Dewey, with a Holding call (44.43). The Bison PK unit & Jordan Lawday, successfully killed the penalty, but Raiders were still pressing and creating good chances, but the Bison backline were doing better in clearing the puck, when they had to.

Into the final 10 minutes now and it was still anyone’s game. Raiders would get another chance on the powerplay,  when Paul Petts was called for Tripping (51.19). But again, the Bison dug in and saw off the penalty and return to full strength.There have been times this season, when it’s became a little chippy between the two teams, with a few afters here and there, once the whistle had stopped play.

JJ Pitchley has been one of the main culprits.. So, once again, after the ref had blown the play down, Pitchley & Milton exchanged a few fisticuffs. Then, as Pitchley skated away, he dropped his gloves, as if he wanted to fight… but Milton just laughed and both players were escorted to the penalty box (55.11). Milton picked up a Roughing call & Pitchley received a minor Unsportsmanlike penalty… but I really think he should’ve also received another penalty for ‘Instigating’.. but it went unpenalised.

Within a minute though, Raiders would get another penalty call. Jake Sylvester, with a Tripping minor (56.00). Again, the Bison scored, early into the powerplay. Liam Morris assisting Alex Roberts (56.17) and he scored, with a cool top shelf finish, from a very acute angle, which Michael Gray felt he should’ve saved, especially by his reaction afterwards.

This gave the Bison a two goal lead again and it pretty much killed any chance of Raiders coming back again. Into the final 2 minutes of the game and Raiders went all out, as they pulled the nettie for an extra guy on the ice. But, Bison hadn’t completed the scoring just yet… Zack Milton (59.35) picked up the puck in the Bison zone and flipped the puck up the ice… it bounced a couple of times and then rolled slowly into the empty net, as a Raiders player just failed to reach it… final nail applied !

The final few seconds ran down and at the final buzzer, the Bison had picked up another good victory and completed a 4 pt weekend..

The Raiders media guy always allows the travelling fans to chose their Man of the Match award and to be fair, it was a pretty easy decision to give it to nettie Jordan Lawday, who faced 44 shots, the beers. He kept us in the game all evening, with some special saves.

Dan Scott was Raiders MoM.

Bison return to action, when they face the Leeds Knights this Saturday, in our final home league match of the season.

Match Stats:

Raiders : Piatak 2+1, Scott 1+2, Sladovsky 1+0, Ayliffe 0+2, Baldock 0+1, Relf 0+1, Sylvester 0+1.
Nets : Gray  31/6  (80.65%)  Empty Net  1/1 (100%)

Bison : Doughty 2+2, Roberts 2+1, Norcliffe 1+3, Milton 1+2, Harding 1+1, Dewey 0+1, Morris 0+1.
Nets : Lawday  44/4  (90.93%)

Shots on Goal : Raiders 44 Bison 32
Penalties (PiMs) : Raiders 16  Bison 18