FINAL SCORE : Raiders IHC 7 Bison 1 (2-0,2-0,3-1)
By Nigel Simmonds
Sunday 30th October 2022
Refs : Mr Bicknell & Mr Matthews
Lino’s : Mr O’Neill & Mr Sore
After a very disappointing loss against the Bees the previous evening, your GalaxC Cooling Services sponsored Basingstoke Bison, travelled to Essex to face the Raiders IHC.
Bison scratches – Adam Jones & Aidan Doughty.
Ethan James & Alex Mettam would get the nod to start in net.
Bison would take an early penalty, when they picked up a Bench Minor penalty, for ‘Too Many Men’ (2.12), which was served by Edgars Landbergs.
Raiders Mikey Power tested Mettam, but his shot was saved. Bison saw off the penalty successfully. Bison had a couple of chances through Norcliffe & Balaz, but both were thwarted.
Raiders would take the lead via a very familiar source. Ex-Bison skipper Aaron Connolly (Gomercic, Reid) netting (8.17).
Gaël Lubwele would pick up an Interference call (12.49), but Bison would kill the penalty successfully.
Lubwele would then win a face off in the Raiders zone and found Liam Morris, but his shot was blocked.
Unfortunately, Raiders would go up the ice and score again, with Brandon Ayliffe (Connolly, Power) netting past Mettam (17.41).
Bison would fall foul of the officials again, when Jay King picked up a Hooking call (18.46). Thankfully, they would see out the period though, but Raiders dominated throughout, outshooting the Bison 17-3.
Into the second period and Bison would see out the remaining time left on King’s penalty.
Zack Milton was next to visit the penalty box, when he was awarded an Interference call (24.13).
Raiders took full advantage and netted again on the powerplay, through Adam Laishram (Power, Sylvester), timed at 24.52.
Another ex-Bison captain Elliott Dewey, was given a Hooking penalty (26.55). Lubwele almost got the Bison on the board, but his shot was saved by James. That was followed by a save to deny Marcel Balaz.
Just as the penalty ended, Raiders were given another penalty. This time a Tripping call for Ashley Jackson (29.00). Just over a minute into the penalty, Liam Morris would pick up a Elbows penalty (30.21).
A little time of 4-on-4, before Raiders returned to full strength. Bison would see off their penalty too soon after.
Raiders Matthieu Gomercic, would get called for Holding (32.34). Zack Milton & George Norcliffe both testing James in Raiders net, but still no goal coming. Then Ayliffe broke clear, but his shot went wide, but Milton would pick up a Slashing call on the play (34.16).
Gomercic’s penalty expired and that gave Raiders a little bit of powerplay time and again, they would punish Bison, by scoring again. Tommy Huggett (Gulliver, Gomercic) netting the goal (35.39).
Raiders totally in control, but a turnover saw Norcliffe with a good chance, but his shot went wide. Sampford then had an opportunity, but his shot was blocked.
Just as period was ending, a poor change by Raiders saw them pick up a Bench minor for Too Many Men (39.52). The period ended and it was more level in the shots department, with James facing 8 & Mettam facing only 6.
Into the 3rd period and Bison started with 1.53 still on the PP.
Sadly they couldn’t make the extra man count and Raiders would return to full strength.
Within a minute though, Bison would finally beat Ethan James, when Ryan Sutton (Sampford, Mettam) scored at 42.51.
Raiders thought they had scored again, but after a short conflab between all the officials, the goal was washed out by Mr Bicknell.
Soon after, Bison would hand Raiders a great opportunity, when Marcus Mitchell picked up a Roughing call & Alex Sampford was given an Unsportsmanlike penalty (both timed at 46.47). This gave Raiders a 5-on-3 and they punished Bison again. That man Aaron Connolly (Gomercic, Relf) netting again (48.13) on the PP.
Bison would return to full strength soon after, but they would get another chance, when Gomercic picked up a Hooking call (49.22).
The Raiders penalty killers stood firm and killed the penalty.
Then Raiders scored two quick goals, that would completely cap off a horrible week for the Bison. 4 games with 4 losses.
Firstly, Adam Laishram (Gulliver, Sylvester) netted at 52.43 & then Ashley Jackson (Gomercic, Power) completed the scoring, timed at 53.57.
Bison would give Raiders another two man advantage, when Liam Morris was called for Slashing (54.10) & then Gaël Lubwele picked up a Tripping call (55.46). But although it was immaterial, kudos to Bison Penalty Killers for seeing out both penalties.
Bison would get one last chance on the powerplay, when Callum Wells was given a Roughing call (58.59), but Bison couldn’t find the net.
The remaining time ran down and Raiders completed a 4 point weekend.
Ryan Sutton picking up MoM beers for Bison, whilst Aaron Connolly was a worthy recipient, for the home side.
Match Stats:
Raiders Stats : Connolly 2+1, Laishram 2+0, Ayliffe 1+0, Huggett 1+0, Jackson 1+0, Gomercic 0+4, Power 0+3, Gulliver 0+2, Sylvester 0+2, Reid 0+1, Relf 0+1.
Nets : James (22/1)
Bison Stats : Sutton 1+0, Mettam 0+1, Sampford 0+1.
Nets : Mettam (37/7)
PiMs : Raiders 12 Bison 20
SoG : Raiders 37 Bison 22
MoM Raiders : Aaron Connolly
MoM Bison : Ryan Sutton
Bison are back in action next Saturday (5th Nov), when Raiders visit the Bison Arena, tickets are available to purchase from the following links: https://iceaccount.co.uk/basingstoke-bison?Reference=Bison-Website
