Image (C) Jo Loat
FINAL SCORE : TIGERS 9 BISON 3
(5-0, 2-0, 2-3)
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Ions & Mr Williams
Lino’s : Mr Arnold & Miss Stanley
After Saturday evenings, hard fought game, ending in a shoot-out victory against the Bees IHC, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the fairly long trip up to Shropshire, to face the Telford Tigers, with both teams still fighting it out for the final two play-off spots.
The Bison scratches this game, were Carl Graham, Travis Penny, Roman Cathcart, Oli Hemmings-Maher, Josh Kelly & Aidan Doughty.
Brad Day & Jordan Lawday would both get the start between the pipes, for their respective teams.
Whether it was a case of ‘bus legs’ or just not being fully focused for the game, it really wasn’t the best of starts from the Bison, as the Tigers came out flying.
Robert Herrman (Carlon, Luka) gave the hosts the best possible start, when the dual national forward scored at 2.21.
Tigers Jake Price, would pick up the first penalty of the evening, when he picked up a Boarding call (4.13), but they would see off the penalty successfully and returned to full strength.
Telford would double their lead, when Finley Howells (McKenzie) notched up his first point of the evening, when he netted, timed at 8.11.
Just over halfway into the period and with Bison offering very little, the home side scored again. Lucas Price (Jesson) netting this time (11.23). This prompted Bison Coach Ashley Tait, to once again call a Time Out in the 1st period, with his team being bombarded and outplayed.
Sadly, what ever he tried to implore on to his team, it wasn’t heeded by his players, as the Tigers Tom Carlon struck a 4th goal soon after. Herrman & Mitchell-King assisting the goal, timed at 12.20.
A few minutes later and Tigers would make it a period that Bison players/fans alike, would want to forget instantly, as Henry Adams added a 5th goal for the home team. Vladimir Luka with an assist (16.23).
The Tigers would pick up a Bench penalty late in the period, when they were called for having ‘Too Many Men’ on the ice (18.28). This gave the Bison a powerplay chance, but unfortunately they couldn’t find the net, before the period ended. Day faced 10 shots, whilst Lawday faced 12.
Bison would start the second period, still with 28 secs on the powerplay, but Telford would kill the penalty.
Bison’s Liam Morris, would pick up our first penalty of the evening, when he was called for Tripping at 27.27. Thankfully, the Bison penalty killers did a good job and successfully killed the penalty.
An altercation between Liam Morris & Jake Price at the half way stage, would earn both players a visit to the sinbin. Price received a Roughing call, whilst Morris picked up a Cross-Checking penalty (30.02).
A few seconds into the penalties and Tigers would light the lamp once again. Henry Adams netting his 2nd goal, with Dan Rose & Herrman providing the assists (30.12).
Sometimes in sport, you get these absolute blow-outs. For example, look at Liverpool last Sunday, when they hammered Man Utd 7-0. A very humbling result indeed for the visitors.
Well, a few seconds later, the Bison would know that feeling, when the Tigers scored a 7th goal… Finley Howells once again, with Scott McKenzie assisting (30.37)
That would be enough for Coach Tait & Jordan Lawday was replaced by Alex Mettam, between the pipes for the Bison
Both teams returned to full strength, as the penalties for Morris & Price expired.
At 33.26, the Telford bench would once again pick up a ‘Too Many Men’ penalty call. But the home side would successfully kill the penalty.
With only a couple of minutes left in the period, another couple of penalties were called… firstly, Tigers Robert Herrman, picked up a Tripping call (38.37) and that was quickly followed by Bison’s Edgars Landbergs, being called for High-Sticks (38.50). The teams went back to a little 4-on-4 hockey to see out the period
Brad Day faced 11 shots, whilst Jordan Lawday faced 4 & Alex Mettam faced 5 shots.
Into the 3rd period now and both teams would start a man light, but those penalties would soon end and both teams returned to full strength.
Hallam Wilson, would finally give the loyal travelling Bison fans something to cheer, when he opened the Bison’s account on the scoreboard, with Paul Petts & Neil Liddiard picking up assists in the goal (42.40).
Within a couple of minutes, it was business as usual for the Tigers, as they netted an 8th goal, with veteran compaigner Rick Plant (McKenzie, Howells) finding the net (45.42).
It had taken until the 3rd period for the Bison, to finally find their scoring sticks, but Hallam Wilson’s seemed to be working OK, as he followed up his earlier goal, with another one. Edgars Landsbergs & Brendan Baird providing the assists (48.51).
Into the last 10 minutes of the game now and Liam Morris would make it a hat-trick of penalties, as he was called for an ‘Abuse of Official’ penalty (52.11), giving the Tigers another scoring chance.
But, it would be the Bison that would actually score. Gaël Lubwele with a short-handed marker, assisted by Zack Milton (53.33)
Bison would return to full strength, as the penalty to Morris expired.
Into the last couple of minutes of the game, but Tigers weren’t completely finished scoring yet.
The impressive Robert Herrman (Luka, Rose) sealing the Bison’s fate, as he found the twine again (59.05).
The final seconds ran down and at the final buzzer, the Tigers ran out very deserved winners. They were relentless from the drop of the first puck, til the last …..
The Bison on the other hand… it was definitely a performance, that the players need to forget ASAP, especially as they have a tough 3 games coming up this weekend.
I really did feel for the Bison fans that made the trip though… I’m sure they all have their own opinions, on what they witnessed…
Hallam Wilson (Bison) & Henry Adams (Tigers) were awarded the MoM beers, with both players netting twice for their teams.
Match Stats:
Tigers Stats: Herrman 2+2, Howells 2+1, Adams 2+0, Carlon 1+1, Plant 1+0, L Price 1+0, Luka 0+3, McKenzie 0+3, Rose 0+2, Jesson 0+1, Mitchell-King 0+1.
Nets : Day (29/3)
Bison Stats: Wilson 2+0, Lubwele 1+0, Baird 0+1, Landsbergs 0+1, Liddiard 0+1, Milton 0+1, Petts 0+1.
Nets : Lawday (16/7) Mettam (18/2)
PiMs : Tigers 10 Bison 8
SoG : Tigers 34 Bison 29
Bison return to action next Friday evening, when they visit Swindon (17th March). Then, the following night, they’re away again, in Bristol (18th).
They finally return home on Sunday (19th), when the Raiders IHC, visit the Bison Arena (Face Off – 5.30pm)
Don’t miss out – Good seats are still available to purchase from teh following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website….
