Lightning stretched their unbeaten run to four games when they defeated Basingstoke Bison for the third time in as many meetings this season.
The result lifted Lightning into third spot in the English Premier League with just two points separating first and fourth placed clubs.

Leigh Jamieson gave the hosts a brilliant start when he took Lukas Zatopek’s pass and fired it from distance past goalie Dean Skinns after just 37 seconds.

That proved to be the only goal of the first session with Michael Wales and Adam Carr probably having the best of the Lightning chances – the captain’s effort being saved and Wales’ back stick shot going wide of target.

Bison got back into the game when Nicky Chinn turned in a pass from Ollie Bronnimann after 27mins 19secs.

However only 26 seconds later Lightning were back in front with Blaz Emersic setting up Adam Brittle for the hosts’ second goal.

Once more though, Bison hit back with Joe Miller registering after 33mins 11secs while Lewis Christie was in the sin bin.

By the second break Lightning were back in front after Juraj Gracik sent Nick Poole away for a one on one with Skinns, the player coach firing high into the net.

Bison failed to find another equaliser in the third period and in a last ditch bid for one they took off Skinns for an extra skater – giving Gracik the chance to add the fourth goal on an empty net with a shot from the half way line 18 seconds from the buzzer.

MKL Goals

0.37 Jamieson, Zatopek, Emersic E
22.45 Brittle, Emersic, Jamieson E
39.16 Poole, Gracij, Farn E
59.42 Gracik, Jamieson, Mettam ENG

Basingstoke Goals

27.19 Chinn, Bronnimann, Kubenko E
33.11 Miller, Petran, Moria PP

MK Penalties

11.31 Zatopek, 2 mins, boarding
17.50 Zatopek, 2 mins, Slashing
20.55 Poole, 2 mins, hi sticks
31.23 Christie, 2 mins, hooking
36.36 Jamieson, 2 + 2mins, Roughing
Basingstoke Penalties

2.03 Petran, 2 mins, slashing
36.36 Chinn, 2 + 2 mins, roughing

Shots on Goals

MKL - Mettam - 8, 9, 11 = 28

Basingstoke - 7, 11, 3 = 21

Referee - Blaine Evans

Linesmen - Nathan Carmichael, Ryan Gadeke