FINAL SCORE : RAIDERS 7 BISON 2 (3-1, 3-1, 1-0)
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Belfitt & Mr Pickett
Lino’s : Mr George & Mr Sore
After Saturday evenings exciting game, but ultimately, resulting in another disappointing loss, to the Raiders, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the trip to Romford, Essex, to play the away leg of the back-to-back games, versus the Raiders this weekend.
The Bison scratches this game, were Hallam Wilson, Paul Petts, Oli Hemmings-Maher, Roman Cathcart & Aidan Doughty.
Ethan James & Jordan Lawday both getting the start on nets, for their respective teams.
From the drop of the puck to start the game, it would be Raiders that showed out first, with Elliott Dewey, Alex Roberts & Matthieu Gomercic all going close.
Raiders would take the lead, as Aaron Connolly (Barry, Jackson) was left all alone on front of net and he beat Jordan Lawday, to put the home side 1-nil up (3.18).
Bison’s Neil Liddiard would pick up the first penalty of the evening, as he was given a Slashing call (5.39), but Bison had a great opportunity, when George Norcliffe intercepted a pass and was off up ice, in all alone, but James would keep him out. Bison would kill the remaining penalty successfully.
Ashley Jackson would double the Raiders lead, as his backhand shot across the crease, managed to bank in off the inside of Lawday’s skate and into the net. Wells & Barry assisting the goal (11.53).
The Raiders first penalty of the evening was given to Jack Cooper, as he picked up an Interference call (14.53). Gaël Lubwele came closest to getting the Bison on the board, but both his shots were blocked. Raiders would return to full strength
At 18.00, Raiders would be awarded a penalty shot, when Callum Wells was sent free, but just as he was about to shoot, Josh Kelly impeded him, with a timely hook. Ref Tim Pickett, signalled he had the ‘X Factor’, above his head.. !
After a small break, Aaron Connolly stepped up to take the shot. He skated in, pulled a deke and went backhand, but Lawday had predicted correctly and managed to get his pad in the way of Connolly’s shot, pulling off a great save.
That save gave the Bison a much needed boost and a few seconds later, they went up the ice and netted a goal. Gaël Lubwele doing most of the donkey work, as he skated in and around the Raiders net, before he found the perfect pass, onto Milton’s stick and Zack buried the puck high over James’s glove hand (18.59). Marcus Mitchell would also pick up an assist.
Sadly, that would just fire up the Raiders and on the next play, they extended their lead, back to two.
Aaron Connolly dropping the pass to Elliott Dewey and he swept the puck across to Mikey Power on the point and he unleashed a shot, which appeared to take a deflection on the way, but the goal was awarded to Power (19.19).
That was all the action for the first period and at the first interval, Raiders went in leading 3-1.
Into the second period and Raiders would score early to increase their lead. Alex Roberts skating in, Neil Liddiard deciding to launch himself, by sliding in front of Roberts, but only managed to slid right by him and Roberts outdeked Lawday to score easily, unassisted (21.05).
A couple of minutes later and Bison would reduce the deficit back to 2 goals, as Edgars Landsbergs neat pass, set up George Norcliffe and he fired home top shelf, past James (24.01).
Within 40secs of restart, the Raiders would score again (24.37). Roberts picking his spot, top shelf over Lawday’s shoulder, which led Jay King to push the goal over in frustration. Dan Scott & Brandon Ayliffe notching assists on the goal.
Bison would call a ‘Time Out’ and Coach Tait would try and get his point across to his team, but the younger Raiders fans behind the bench, would make it very difficult, as they banged on the plexi and sounded their horns, doing anything they could, to distract the away team.
Then, a strange incident happened, to which I have never witnessed before. As Lawday was skating back towards his net after the Time Out, the play had started again, without his knowledge. He got to his net, turned around and was faced with Raiders players, surging towards him. He managed to get in a couple of saves, before Roberts fired the puck into the net.
Lawday & his teammates, were clearly upset about this and it looked like the goal would stand. Then, all the officials got together to have a chat. The outcome was that the Refs decided to correctly wash out the goal and returned the clock to the time of the previous stoppage, as the Bison nettie was clearly not ready, when the puck had been dropped for the restart.
This obviously wasn’t received well by the Raiders bench or their fans, but I have to say, that common sense definately prevailed here and correctly so, as well. I’m sure if it had been the other way around, they would’ve kicked up a stink and felt hard done by.
I will just add, that one of the refs went onto social media later that evening, to explain the reason why the goal had been washed out.. That was very refreshing to see & well done to him for doing that..
Neil Liddiard would pick up his second penalty of the evening, when he picked a Slashing call (25.06), giving the Raiders a chance on the PP. It wouldn’t take long for them to net again. Alex Roberts & Jake Sylvester, setting up Ashley Jackson and he fired home, leaving Lawday well beaten (25.19).
That would be enough for Coach Tait, as he replaced Lawday, with incoming Alex Mettam.
Just past halfway in the game and a couple of quick penalties, left the teams playing a bit of 4-on-4 hockey. Firstly, Raiders Harry Gulliver was called for Hooking (30.13) & then Bison’s Jay King was called for Interference (31.01).
The penalty on Gulliver had just expired, when Brandon Ayliffe was given a Holding call (32.13), meaning Bison would get a little powerplay opportunity, once King’ s penalty expired.
Lubwele & Liddiard would both test James, but the Raiders netminder would keep both attempts out.
Harry Gulliver had a great scoring chance, but he was absolutely robbed, at close range.. the goal judge had already lit the light, expecting to see the puck enter the net, but Mettsy pulled off a spectacular glove save…. Wow !
Mettam faced a couple more shots in the remaining time of the second period, but he was seeing the puck well and denying the home side, with save after save.
The two team skated off the ice, at the second interval, with Raiders lead g 6-2.
There was a slight delay to the start of the 3rd period, as a little maintenance was required, to repair a small hole in the ice.
A few minutes late, but the puck dropped to start the final period and it wouldn’t be long before the Bison got an early powerplay chance. Matthieu Gomercic picking up a Slashing call (40.49).
Bison peppered the Raiders net, with Lubwele, Morris & Baird all seeing their shots blocked, or well saved by James. Raiders returned to full strength soon after.
Then, a contentious moment in the game. Marcel Balaz & Gomercic were fighting for the puck against the boards. Gomercic appeared to have Balaz’s stick under his arm, so Marcel pulled upwards, resulting in both players falling backwards and landing in a heap on the ice. The refs hand went up and a penalty was forthcoming. Personally, I thought it was for Gomercic, for Holding… but after another little conflab between the officials, it was decided that Balaz was awarded a Match Penalty for Slew Footing (43.07). For me, it was a crazy decision and it would be the second time, that Marcel had been called for that offence, at this same rink this season. The first offence, resulted in a 4 Game Suspension, for the Slovak player.
Thomas Banner would sit the 5 min penalty, that accompanies the major call, giving Raiders a good amount of time, with the man advantage.
Raiders were creating good chances, with Scott, Power & Gomercic, all bringing good saves out of Mettam.
Nearing the end of the penalty, Jay King would be called for Tripping (47.37), giving the home team a small amount of 5-on-3 time.. like they needed any more help.
Bison, bit more importantly, Mettam was keeping the Raiders attack at bay, with save after save & the PK unit clearing their zone. Jay King would return to the ice, but within a minute or so, he would be back in the penalty box, as he accidentally caught Connolly with a high stick. Penalty timed at 51.54.
The Raiders forward lines were throwing everything at Mettam, but he was seeing the puck like a beach ball, blocking, padding away and grabbing it out of thin air.
Bison offered very little going forward late on. The closest they went, was with a George Norcliffe chance, that was well blocked by Ethan James.
Into the final minute of the period and just as we hoped that Mettsy would get to the end keeping the home side out, he was finally beaten, by Gomercic, who snapped a wrist shot past him (59.25), after good work & set up, by Connolly & Jackson.
Was a tad gutted for Mettam, as he was brilliant from the time he came in, to the final few seconds, when he was sadly beaten. His fine display, earned him the MoM award, which he was a very worthy recipient of..
Ashley Jackson picked up the beers for the Raiders. Again, he was a deserved choice for the award.
So, overall… it was a very disappointing weekend for the Bison. I felt they should’ve won Saturday evenings game, but unfortunately they allowed the Raiders back into the game, after wasting great opportunities to put the game out of sight, whilst leading & Sundays game was pretty much one sided, with all the damage being done in the first half of the game.
Match Stats:
Raiders Stats : Jackson 2+2, Roberts 2+1, Connolly 1+2, Gomercic 1+0, Power 1+0, Barry 0+2, Ayliffe 0+1, Dewey 0+1, Scott 0+1, Sylvester 0+1, Wells 0+1.
Nets : James (35/2)
Bison Stats : Milton 1+0, Norcliffe 1+0, Landsbergs 0+1, Lubwele 0+1, Mitchell 0+1.
Nets : Lawday (26/6), Mettam (25/1)
PiMs : Raiders 8 Bison 35
SoG : Raiders 35 Bison 51
MoM Raiders : Ashley Jackson
MoM Bison : Alex Mettam
Bison return to action this coming Saturday (28th), as last placed Hull Seahawks, visit the Bison Arena in what is a crucial game in the quest for a play off place (Face Off – 6.30pm), tickets are available to purchase from the following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
