Photo (C) Jo Loat
Final Score : Phantoms 6 Bison 3
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Hewitt & Mr Williams
Lino’s : Mr Earl & Mr Kowal
After a really disappointing OT loss the previous evening to local rivals, the Bees IHC. The GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, travelled to Cambridgeshire, to take on the resurgent Peterborough Phantoms.
Missing from Bison line-up, were Ryan Sutton, Cain Russell & Dan Weller-Evans.
It’s always a really tough place to come to play. The tight playing surface, the vociferous crowd (in which, certain sections are quite abusive towards the opposing team).
With all the player intros & the National Anthem done, it was time for puck drop. Early doors and it would be Phantoms that had the first attack. Ales Padelek denied by a great double save, from starting nettie Alex Mettam.
Will Weldon would pick up the first penalty of the evening, when he was called for Hooking (4.52). But, within 30secs, Bison would also pick up a penalty. Zack Milton given a Tripping call (5.23). It was a poor call, as the other player was already on his way down… but that seemed to to be an early indication of what to expect from the officials.
So, a little 4-on-4 hockey for a bit and Bison would open the scoring from it. Brendan Baird picking out Ashley Tait ghosting in at the back post, to tip the puck past Marr (5.51). Alex Roberts also with an assist. Both teams returned to full strength soon after.
Brendan Baird would pick up a Hooking penalty (8.40) and Phantoms went on the powerplay.
They would use it well and levelled the score, when Billing & Weldon combined to find Tom Norton in lots of space and he drilled his shot top shelf past Mettam (9.48).
A couple of minutes later and another call on the Bison. Adam Jones, with an Interference call (10.53). But Bison, would kill the penalty.
Then, Phantoms thought they had taken the lead, but the goal was washed out by the ref, as there was a Phantoms player in the goalie crease.
Then, a penalty call that really annoyed the Bison. There was a little coming together in front of net, but no call on the play was forthcoming. But, as play stopped, the refs had a little conflab and awarded a Cross Check penalty to Doughty (17.31). It really does sum up, how poor the officiating is this season. It’s so inconsistent, week to week… It must be so frustrating for the players/coaches alike and I understand why tempers rise.
Anyway, Phantoms would get a go ahead goal from it. Jarvis Hunt awarded the goal (18.53), but the puck went in off Alex Roberts, after it rebounded in off the Canadians leg, after Mettam made a save.
Stepanek & McEwan assisting the goal. How’s your luck !!
The period ended, with the hosts leading 2-1 & a shot count that read, 8 on Phantoms & a whopping 18 on the Bison.
Into the 2nd period and Bison would receive another penalty. Doughty, again the offender with a Slashing call (21.09), but it was killed off successfully.
Bison then levelled the score, as Harding set Doughty free down the wing and his slide rule pass found George Norcliffe skating in and fired the puck past Marr (23.41). A few seconds later and Bison were handed a powerplay opportunity. wannabe tough guy Joe Gretton, handed a Roughing call (23.57). Unfortunately, Bison could capitalise and Phantoms returned to full strength.
Bison were punished again, as they picked up a Bench minor penalty, for Too Many Men (26.05) & this was quickly followed by Adam Harding picking up a Cross-Checking penalty (27.01), which again I really felt was a poor call. But, this gave Phantoms the perfect opportunity to take full advantage, with a 5-on-3 powerplay. And they didn’t need long to score. Stepanek finding Hunt at the back post, to tap in, at the second attempt (28.01).
Phantoms thought they’d scored again, when Norton fired home, but again, it was washed out…. Phew !
Phantoms Ross Clarke, picked up a Tripping call (30.26), giving Bison a powerplay, but we couldn’t find the net. Phantoms were then given a Penalty Shot…. up stepped Ales Padelek.. he skated down, tried to outdeke Mettsy, but Alex outwitted the forward and made the save.
The remaining time ran down and at the end of the 2nd period, the scoreline read – Phantoms 3 Bison 2. There were 12 shots on each goalie.
Into the 3rd period and somehow, we we’re still in this game, but it would need to be a big effort from the guys to turn it around…
Both teams creating chances, but neither team could find the net..
Into the second half of the period now and it all changed, with Phantoms finding the net twice.
Firstly, Buglass set Padelek free down the wing and he managed to get a shot in on Mettam, which was well saved, but the puck fell to Billing and he made no mistake finding the net (51.40). A couple of minutes later and good work from Stepanek and a cheeky backhand pass across the crease, found Corey McEwan at the back post, for a simple tap in (53.51).
This prompted the Bison to call their “Time Out” and Coach Tait voiced his opinions to his team.
Peterborough were on the attack again, with Hunt causing an altercation behind the Bison net. He’d lost his stick during the play and decided to just grab hold of Ollie Stone behind the goal, dragging him to the ground.. as the players got up, words were exchanged and then Dewey & Gretton both raced in to get involved. The outcome was a Bison powerplay, with Hunt awarded a minor Holding call, Dewey & Gretton both receiving minor Roughing calls, all timed at 55.53
Bison did pull a goal back, when Doughty set up Zack Milton in front of net and he ripped his shot past Marr (57.05). Tait also assisting.
Into the final 2 minutes of the game, but there was still time for Phantoms to score again. Weldon and McEwan creating a chance for Stepanek and he didn’t make a mistake, as he lifted the puck over the diving Mettam (58.15).
Joe Gretton then decided to fight Liam Morris, who had no interest of getting involved and it was an early shower for Gretton, as his picked up a 5min Fighting major (58.53).
The clock ran down and at the buzzer, Phantoms run out as deserved winners, with a 6-3 final scoreline …. before all the MoM awards were announced, the Bison players decided (or were told ?) to skate off & head back to their changing room. They acknowledged the travelling Bison fans that had made the trip.
This didn’t go down well with the Phantoms fans and the boos rang out from the stands… Then, an incident broke out by the Bison locker room and it took a long while for the offender (Phantoms ‘fan’) to be dragged away by security.
There is absolutely no place for this in our sport !!
Man of the Match :
Phantoms : Tom Norton
Bison : Aidan Doughty (I think !)
Phantoms : Hunt 2+0, Stepanek 1+2, Billing 1+1, McEwan 1+1, Norton 1+0, Weldon 0+2, Buglass 0+1, Padelek 0+1.
Nets : Marr 31/3 (90.32%)
Bison : Tait 1+1, Milton 1+0, Norcliffe 1+0, Roberts 0+2, Baird 0+1, Doughty 0+1, Harding 0+1.
Nets : Mettam 43/6 (86.05%)
Shots on Goal : Phantoms 43 Bison 31
Penalties (PiMs) : Phantoms 15 Bison 16
