Basingstoke Bison found to their cost that Lightning have the meanest defence in the English Premier League when they were unable to provide an answer to Leigh Jamieson’s 13th minute shorthanded strike

Lightning started the match without both Juraj Gracik and Adam Brittle, both nursing shoulder injuries, giving Ross Bowers and Michael Wales the chance to partner Blaz Emersic on the first line.

Two early penalties on Bison players came and went before the visitors found themselves short-handed with both Wales and Nick Poole serving slashing penalties at the same time.

Lightning survived the five on three spell and with Poole still in the sin bin Jamieson bagged an unassisted short handed goal at 13mins 27secs.
As the game progressed it became increasingly niggly. Ross Green suffered the first penalty call, for holding, in the idle period but Bison were unable to make it count.

Similarly when Chris Wiggins was called for charging the Bison penalty kill unit was able to see off the threat.
The period ended with Bison having three players in the sin bin and Lightning two but still the visitors held the 1-0 lead.
Two early Bison penalties – on Daniel Harris and Marek Dubec – failed to give Lightning another goal while there was no way through for Bison Christie was called for a high stick.

In the final minute Bison called a timeout and withdrew goalie Matt Colclough for the extra skater but Lightning shut up shop for maximum points.

MKL Goals

2.46 Towalski, Christie E
19.16 Carr, Jamieson E
20.54 Carr, Christie, Zatopek E
59.37 Jamieson, Carr ENG

Basingstoke Goals

56.27 Moria, Dubek, Bronniman

MKL Penalties

18.56 Towalski, 2 mins, slashing
29.09 Towalski, 2 mins, holding
31.15 McPherson, 2 mins, holding
39.40 Farn, 2 mins, hooking
55.77 Wales, 2 mins, hi sticks

Basingstoke Penalties

12.32 Bronniman, 2 mins, slashing
18.56 Bronniman, 2 mins, slashing
29.09 Reynolds, 2 mins, holding
29.09 Reynolds, 2 mins, roughing
35.11 Wiggins, 2 mins, elbows
35.44 Redmond, 2 mins, charging
51.11 Bench, icing infringement

Shots on Goal

MKL – Mettam – 12, 11, 16 = 38
Basingstoke – Colclough – 13, 11, 9 = 33
Basingstoke – EN 1

Referee – Blaine Evans
Linesmen Jason Earl, Nathan Carmichael

MOM - Mettam