Images (C) Tony Sargeant
FINAL SCORE : LIGHTNING 5 BISON 7 (2-2, 2-3, 1-2)
By Nigel Simmonds
Refs : Mr Hewitt & Mr Wells
Lino’s : Mr Earl & Mr Kowal
After Saturday evenings, thoroughly deserved victory over the Bristol Pitbulls, which very much kept the team in the push, for a end of season Play-Off place, your GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, made the trip to Buckinghamshire, to face the high flying MK Lightning, who themselves earned a tense OT victory, over the League leading Leeds Knights, the previous evening.
The Bison scratches this game, were Carl Graham, Paul Petts, Roman Cathcart, Oli Hemmings-Maher, Alex Sampford & Aidan Doughty.
MK back-up nettie Daniel Crowe, would get the start for the Lightning, whilst Bison Coach Ashley Tait, called upon Alex Mettam again, for his second start of the weekend, between the pipes.
The first few minutes went by without alot of any incident.
Then, after the play had been whistled down for an offside, Hallden Barnes-Garner & Liam Morris had a little coming together.
Both players receiving 2min minor Roughing calls (4.08), resulting in some 4-on-4 hockey.
MK would take the lead, when Sam Talbots pass set up Sean Norris and he skated in towards the Bison net. He appeared as though he’d lost control of the puck and it would be an easy save for Mettam, but somehow, the puck squirmed free and Norris was on hand, to tap it home (4.32). Both teams returned to full strength soon after.
A couple of minutes on and Bison’s Edgars Landsbergs, was called for Tripping (8.03). But as before, the Bison PK killed the penalty successfully.
A bad line change by the Bison, led to the Lightning doubling their lead, when Bobby Chamberlain’s defence splitting pass, set Norris free again and he finished neatly, beating Mettam (11.42). Ben Russell would also pick up an assist.
From the face-off, MK’s Sam Talbot would pick up a Tripping call (11.46), giving the Bison a powerplay. 40secs later and Lewis Christie would pick up a Slashing call (12.23) too, giving the visitors a fair chunk of time, with a two man advantage.
Bison would set about trying to reduce the deficit and with some really neat tic-tac-toe passing, between Zack Milton, Gaël Lubwele & Marcel Balaz, they created enough space for Balaz to circle in, pick his spot top shelf, beating Crowe over his shoulder (12.41).
This still gave the Bison, a good amount of time left on the other penalty…. but sadly, the Lightning would kill off the remaining time & returned to full strength.
Just before entering the final minute of the period, a poor turnover by MK, allowed Zack Milton to intercept the pass, lay it off to George Norcliffe, who in turn, found Gaël Lubwele and he made no mistake, firing home as he was on his way down (18.54).
He styled it out and celebrated, with a lovely knee slide.
The time ran down on the period and at the first break, both teams went in 2 apiece.. The SoG were, 17 on Mettam & only 9 on Crowe.
The 2nd period was only a minute old, when Liam Stewart picked up the puck and started off skating around the Bison zone, circling the net once, before setting off again on his second time around. Just as he was level with the net, he passed the puck across the goal crease and somehow, the puck ended up behind Alex Mettam (21.58). The goal was announced as unassisted, as it looked to have taken a wierd redirection, off a Bison players skate/stick.
Bison would level up the game a few minutes later, when Zack Milton found an on-rushing Lubwele, who saw his wrister ping off the post, but the play was kept alive by Thomas Banner on the point and he found Balaz, who slid the puck into Lubwele in space and he fired home, through the five-hole of Crowe (27.01). The young nettie will certainly have felt he should’ve stopped that though.
Half way through the game and there was a hit on Lewis Christie, by Lubwele, which gained him some attention from MK players. Christie did make it back to the bench under his own steam, which was good to see.
However, from the coming together before, Sean Norris was given an Unsportsmanlike penalty (31.47), thus giving the Bison a powerplay opportunity.
The Bison PP unit came out and moved the puck around well, but unfortunately, they couldn’t find a way past Crowe.
Then, just as the penalty time was running down, the Bison set up another chance. The puck was charged down by Liam Stewart and he skated up the ice, away from the tiring Bison player, who was in need of a change. MK Player/Coach Tim Wallace, reacted quickest and the Lightning found themselves on an odd man rush. Stewart delayed, before picking out Wallace and he made no mistake, using Milton as a screen, so Mettam couldn’t see the shot come in. A shorthanded goal, for the Lightning, timed at 33.11.
This was turning out to be a great game of hockey, with both sides pushing forward, creating chances, at every opportunity.
Bison wouldn’t take too long to tie up the scores again though.
A face off in the Lightning zone was won by Gaël Lubwele, the puck was kept in by Neil Liddiard, who fired in the puck, which took a defelction and found itself at Edgars Landsbergs stick and he rifled the puck home with aplomb (35.26). He really appeared to enjoy that goal, especially as it was against his old team.
Remarkably, 30secs later and the Bison went ahead, for the first time in the match & it would be a lead, that they would not surrender again. Another MK turnover, intercepted by Liddiard, who fed Balaz and his perfect pass found Gaël Lubwele’s stick and he was in past the last Lightning d-man and outdeked Crowe, to finish nicely on the backhand (35.56).
Then came a real contentious moment in the game, as MK’s Daivids Sarkanis appeared to score past Mettam. The puck clearly looked to have gone in & came out so quickly, that it ended up just behind Mettam, as he quickly covered it, to freeze the play.
The goal light did go on, but Mr Hewitt, who was the closest official to the play, instantly waved off the goal, basically saying it hadn’t entered the net. He was that sure, he didn’t even consult the goal judge, which they normally do.
So, a big let off for the Bison and it was greatly received. Nice to have a bit of good fortune on our side, for once.
Entering the final two mins of the 2nd period and Bison would pick up a couple of late penalties. Firstly, Jay King picked up a Hooking call (38.04) & then a minute later, Brendan Baird, also with a Hooking penalty (39.16), gave the home side a great chance to tie up the scores, just before the period end.
Thankfully though, the Bison saw off the 40 odd secs left and at the buzzer for the second break, the visitors went in with a slender one goal lead, but would start the final period, down by two players.
SoG were, Crowe facing 14 shots & Mettam faced a whopping 24 shots on him.
MK Lightning started the 3rd period with 4secs of two man advantage and then, just over a minute of the odd man advantage.
Bison Penalty Killers would successfully kill the penalty and return to full strength.
MK’s Mack Stewart, would pick up a Tripping call (42.38), putting the Bison back on the powerplay.
But, the Lightning PK units did their job well and saw off the penalty.
A couple of minutes on and MK would pick up another penalty, as Sam Talbot was given a Tripping call (46.04).
The Bison PP came out again and a minute into the powerplay, they extended their lead. Marcel Balaz picking out Bison skipper George Norcliffe and he lasered a shot past Crowe (47.07), to get the travelling Bison fans up on their feet again.
Almost instantly, Bison would get another PP chance, as Ed Knaggs picked up an Elbowing penalty (47.58). However, the Lightning again, would kill the penalty successfully.
Into the final 10 minutes of the game and Bison would hand MK a great opportunity to get a goal back, as Marcel Balaz picked up a Delay of Game penalty (52.52).
MK would have to find a goal, if they really wanted a chance of winning this game.
The seconds ticked down on the penalty, but then the Lightning finally found a way past Mettam.
A really well worked goal, with Liam Stewart doing alot of the donkey work, to find Wallace unmarked, but instead of shooting, he picked out Bobby Chamberlain, who was parked right in front of goal and he tapped home, for an easy finish (54.52). It was going to be a close finish.
The time was running down, but it seems like an eternity, when your team is the one, that’s trying to keep that one goal lead.
Seconds became minutes, as time was slipping away for the Lightning, to find that all important goal, that would level the scores.
Just about to enter the final minute of the game and with MK on the advance, Crowe was pulled for the extra attacker. Bison had an opportunity at the open net, but Balaz saw his attempt just drift wide. But, they would get another chance and this time, they didn’t miss. With Lightning all camped in the Bison zone, Zack Milton managed to break up a play and his pass found Gaël Lubwele and he was quickly joined by Marcel Balaz, as they both skated up the ice by themselves, cheekily passing the puck between themselves, before Balaz let Lubwele, steer the puck into the empty net (59.41), crushing any comeback chance MK had.
The final few seconds ran down and as the buzzer sounded for the end of the game, the Bison players/fans celebrated equally as loud, as it capped off a superb, but a bit unexpected victory in MK. It doesn’t happen very often.
That saw the resurging Bison, obtain back to back 4pt weekends and firmly retain the 7th spot in the play-off race, with a 4 point gap to Telford in 8th place & we have a game in hand on them.
Gaël Lubwele picked up a very well deserved MoM for the Bison, with stats of 4+2 & Sean Norris was selected as Lightnings MoM, with his 2 goals on the night.
Lightning Stats : Norris 2+0, L Stewart 1+2, Chamberlain 1+1, Wallace 1+1, B Russell 0+2, Talbot 0+1.
Nets : Crowe (34/6) Empty Net (1/1)
Bison Stats : Lubwele 4+2, Balaz 1+4, Norcliffe 1+1, Landsbergs 1+0, Liddiard 0+2, Milton 0+2, Banner 0+1.
Nets : Mettam (5/55)
PiMs : Lightning 14 Bison 10
SoG : Lightning 55 Bison 35
MoM Lightning : Sean Norris
MoM Bison : Gaël Lubwele
Bison return to action this coming Saturday (11th Feb), when Aaron Nell, brings his Swindon Wildcats team, to the Bison Arena (Face Off – 6.30pm).
Good Seats are still available – Don’t miss out …..
