FINAL SCORE : BEES 7 BISON 8 (3-2, 1-3, 3-3)
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Ions & Mr Matthews
Lino’s : Mr Lalonde & Mr Sore
After Saturday evenings thoroughly exciting, last period comeback victory over the Hull Seahawks, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the shortest trip of our fixtures, to Slough, to face the TSi World Bees IHC.
The Bison scratches this game, were Carl Graham, Paul Petts, Oli Hemmings-Maher, Roman Cathcart & Aidan Doughty. But, Jack Peacock was back in the line-up, after missing Saturdays game.
It would be Adam Goss & Jordan Lawday, both getting the start, between the pipes, for their respective teams.
These games are usually quite intense, especially with all the history between the teams, that goes back to the late 80’s.. when they were both formed.
It was a fast start, with both netminders facing a shot within the first minute. Bees JJ Pitchley would pick up the first penalty of the evening, as he was called for Interference (1.15).
The resulting powerplay for the Bison, didn’t go as planned.
Firstly, Lawday made a great stop from Walkom, as he skated in one-on-one. Then, Bees took a surprise lead shorthanded, but it was a nice finish from Juha Lindgren (Webb, W Stead), as he skated in, pulled a toe drag & wristed a nice shot top shelf, over Lawday’s glove hand (3.05).
Bees returning to full strength soon after.
Thankfully though, it wouldn’t be long before the Bison responded. A great finish from Zack Milton (Lubwele, Balaz), as he tied the scoreline (4.11).
Josh Kelly would get called for a ‘Check to the Head’ penalty (9.49), as he collided with Lindgren, as he skated into the Bison zone. But thankfully, it was only a minor penalty awarded, instead of a major one, that this call normally carries.
The Bison stood firm and killed the penalty successfully.
The Bees regained the lead again (13.54), when Brendan Walkom took a speculative shot from the left wing, which somehow snuck under Lawdays pad and rolled agonisingly over the line, before Jay King could get there. Dom Gabaj & Jack Goodchild assisting the goal.
Marcel Balaz would take a trip to the penalty box, when he upended Gabaj and he picked up a Tripping call (16.16). Before the end of the penalty, Bison hit more penalty trouble, as Neil Liddiard was called for Holding (18.01), although he looked mystified by the call from Mr Ions. This gave Bees a short time of 5-on-3 hockey, but thankfully, Bison would kill the Balaz penalty, to get back to 4 skaters. Marcel was straight back in the action, as he & Gaēl Lubwele broke up ice on an odd man rush. Lubwele getting his shot off, which Goss saved, but the rebound fell kindly to Balaz and he fired home into an empty net (18.38). The second shorthanded goal of the period, one for each team.
Bison returned to full strength soon after the face off, but back came Bees straight away. JJ Pitchley getting a good tip, on Harvey Stead’s shot from the point (19.02).
Nearing the end of the period, there was a call on Lubwele, as he was called for Hooking. Although, after the whistle, more players decided to get involved. Bees James Galazzi, was awarded a Cross-Checking call, whilst Marcus Mitchell & Will Stead both picked up 10 min Misconduct penalties (19.46)
That was all the action for the first period and Bees held a slim 3-2 lead, going into the 2nd period.
Both teams started the 2nd period a man short, with 1.14 still left on Lubwele & Galazzi’s minor penalties, from the first period. But, both teams would see off the remaining time and returned to full strength.
Bison however, would tie up the scores, when Zack Milton netted (27.20), as their top line struck again, with Balaz & Lubwele assisting the goal.
Bees main man Dom Gabaj, would get called for Hooking (29.13), bit Bees PK units would kill the penalty.
Gabaj would be heavily involved in Bees regaining the lead again, as he picked up the puck and drove into the Bison zone, skating unchallenged, all the way around the back of the net, before passing the puck across the crease, to a waiting Brendan Walkom, who fired past Lawday at the back post (32.01).
JJ Pitchley & Josh Kelly clashed soon after and both picked up Roughing calls (32.39).
A minute later and Bees Harvey Stead joined them in the penalty box, as he got called for Tripping (33.54), giving the visitors a short time of 5-on-3 powerplay.
Bison would return to full strength and Bees to 4 skaters, but then Joe Baird, picked up an Interference call (35.51), giving the Bison a two man advantage. However, Harvey Stead’s penalty would expire, putting them back to 4 skaters.
Soon after, the Bison would score on the remaining powerplay, to the the scoreline again.
Zack Milton (Lubwele, Landsbergs) completing his hat-trick, with another clinical finish (37.07).
It got even better for the Bison. As we entered the final minute of the period, the visitors took the lead for the first time in the evening.
George Norcliffe was causing alot of trouble around the Bees net. He almost scored, but the puck fell kindly to Alex Sampford and he had the time to pick his spot, as he netted up high, over Goss’s shoulder (39.29).
At the second interval break, the Bison went in the locker rooms, leading 5-4. It was building up to be a cracker of a forthcoming final period. Shots on Goal were 7 on Bees & 17 on Bison… not 100% sure on that, but that’s what was announced.
Into the 3rd period now and an early penalty call on Bison, looked like it would hinder them.
Edgars Landsbergs caught Josh Smith, with a accidental High-Stick and thankfully by not drawing any blood, it meant it was just a 2 min minor penalty (41.35).
Only 16 secs into the penalty, the Bison extended their lead to a two goal advantage, as Bison Skipper, George Norcliffe netted shorthanded, with Marcel Balaz providing the assist (41.51).
Like in any sport, that well known saying, about being most vulnerable when you’ve just scored, certainly was true in this game.
Immediately from the face-off, the Bees went up the ice and scored, just 6 secs later. Bees Brendan Walkom, completing his hat-trick, with JJ Pitchley getting the lone assist (41.57).
What a cracking start to the period !
Three minutes in and Gaël Lubwele picked up a High-Sticks call (43.01), but Bison would kill the penalty successfully.
A few minutes later and Bison would re-open the two goal advantage, when Alex Sampford scored again, after good work by Norcliffe (46.10).
Bees would keep pressing forward and all their hard work paid off, as they were rewarded with two quick goals, that would set up the final 10 mins very nicely indeed.
Firstly, ‘Man of the Match’ Brendan Walkom (Gabaj, Mogg) netted his 4th goal of the night, timed at 47.07.
Then, they levelled the scores again, as poor defensive play by the Bison, allowed Dominik Gabaj to pick up a rebound on his own shot and stuff the puck past Jordan Lawday, with Ryan Webb & the impressive Walkom, picking up assists on the goal (50.15).
Bison would get a swift opportunity to try and take the lead again, as James Galazzi was given a Slashing call (51.17). But the Bees Penalty Killers would hold out and kill off the penalty.
Neither team could muster up a goal, before they entered the final two minutes of the game. It was going to be a very nervous time… a time I like to call … S.B.T (Think you can work out, what it stands for..) & I honestly thought, it could go either way…
Into the final minute now and it would be Marcel Balaz’s strike, that would send the Bison travelling fans into a frenzy & sink a dagger into every Bees players/fans heart, when he scored, giving the Bison a very late go ahead, which ultimately turned out to be the game winning goal (59.13), with Lubwele & Milton picking up assists.
This would force the Bees to call their ‘Time Out’…
From the restart, Bees won possession of the puck and pushed forward, allowing Goss to be pulled for an extra attacker.
Bison won possession back and almost scored an empty netter, but Lubwele’s shot went just wide.
The remaining time ran down and as the buzzer sounded for the end of the game, the Bison had pulled off a massive win, with a really hard fought, gutsy road performance, giving them another 4pt Weekend, which don’t come around very often, so trust me, they’re always very welcome when they do show up…
MotM awards were as follows … Zack Miltons 3+1, earning him the beers for the Bison & Brendan Walkom’s 4+1, making him a very worthy recipient for the Bees.
Match Stats:
Bees Stats : Walkom 4+1, Gabaj 1+3, Pitchley 1+1, Lindgren 1+0, Goodchild 0+2, Webb 0+2, Mogg 0+1, H Stead 0+1, W Stead 0+1.
Nets : Goss (42/8)
Bison Stats : Milton 3+1, Balaz 2+3, Sampford 2+0, Norcliffe 1+2, Lubwele 0+5, Baird 0+1, Landsbergs 0+1.
Nets : Lawday (27/7)
PiMs : Bees 24 Bison 24
SoG : Bees 27 Bison 42
MoM Bees : Brendan Walkom
MoM Bison : Zack Milto
Bison return to action this coming Saturday (4th Feb), as the Bristol Pitbulls, visit the Bison Arena (Face Off – 6.30pm) in what is setting up, to be an absolute massive game, in the fight for the final two play-off spots, with Bison currently sitting in 7th & Pitbulls in 9th, just 2pts behind…
Tickets for Saturday crunch game against the Pitbulls are available from the following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
