Images (C) Mike Key
Final score: Basingstoke Bison 5-3 Bristol Pitbulls (League)
By Matthew Church
Sunday 9th October 2022
Refs: Ions and Poulton – Linos: Olczak and Sore
Having suffered their first defeat in five games the previous night away in Milton Keynes, the GalxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison were highly motivated to return to winning ways as they welcomed Bristol Pitbulls to Hampshire for a Sunday night clash. An early powerplay chance was spurned by the home side but shortly after they made amends from a home-grown source. Hallam Wilson (unassisted) was able to tip the puck home from in close at 12:25 for a 1-0 lead. Despite looking the more likely to score, the Bison were unable to double their lead before the first period break arrived.
Fortunately, they wasted no time in scoring their second as the middle frame began, with import forward Marcel Balaz (Norcliffe, Doughty) poking a bouncing puck home at 24:12 after a pass was fired in from the left wing. Not to be left out, the Pitbulls opened their account for the night at 27:03 as Mason Lipsey (Warren) took a neat pass from behind the goal and slammed home past netminder Jordan Lawday.
Soon afterwards, the Herd were handed a powerplay opportunity which they gladly accepted and re-established a two-goal lead at 29:12, when the home team’s other import Gaël Lubwele (Doughty) was on hand at the back post to slam home a quick-fire pass from the right wing. With the Bison now 3-1 ahead, a solid defensive effort saw them maintain that lead as the second period came to a close.
It would not be plain sailing for the Herd in the final frame however, as the visitors were full of confidence from their first victory of the season the night before, and at 41:06 brought themselves within one goal at 3-2. New import and captain Owen Sobchak (E.Bradley, Robertson) took advantage of a goalmouth scramble to find himself in space at the back post and flick the puck home whilst falling to his knees. A powerplay chance shortly after, as a result of a penalty call that left the Bison exasperated, would see the visitors tie the contest at 43:36 with a goal from the powerful Reece Kelly (unassisted).
Nerves began to build amongst the home fans having seen a two-goal lead disappear, so it came as huge relief when Zac Milton (Doughty) put the Bison ahead once again at 46:37 with a carbon-copy finish to the Pitbulls’ opening goal of the night, when he took a pass from behind the net in space and sent a laser past Will Kerlin in net. As the game moved into the final five minutes, everyone knew the next goal would prove critical and to the delight of the home fans, it was scored by a Bison player. Another powerplay opportunity was seized at 56:37 when fan-favourite Gaël Lubwele (Doughty, Norcliffe) took advantage of the extra space to fire home from between the two circles dead in front of netminder Kerlin, to move his side 5-3 ahead.
The final few minutes wound down without further drama to ensure the Herd claimed a well deserved victory and two more points towards their league and cup tallies. Next up at home is a huge challenge on Saturday 15th October against Leeds Knights, the current league-leaders. See you all there!
Match Stats:
Bison stats: Doughty 0+4, Lubwele 2+0, Norcliffe 0+2, Balaz 1+0, Milton 1+0, Wilson 1+0
Netminder: Jordan Lawday 34/3 (91.17%)
Pitbulls stats: E.Bradley 0+1, Kelly 1+0, Lipsey 1+0, Robertson 0+1, Sobchak 1+0, Warren 0+1,
Netminder: Will Kerlin 32/5 (84.38%)
PIM: Bison 17 – Pitbulls 13. SOG: Bison 32 – Pitbulls 34.
Bison MOM: Morris – Pitbulls MOM: Robertson
Tickets are available to purchase for this Saturday’s home game versus the Leeds Chiefs by clicking the following link: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
