THE Basingstoke Bison beat the visiting reigning league champions the Leeds Knights in a thriller last Saturday.


The Herd welcomed back captain George Norcliffe, but were minus injured defenceman Brendan Baird.


The home side got off to a great start, as they opened the scoring in the ninth minute shorthanded, only their second of the season.


Liam Morris skated away down the right wing and his shot was saved by the out stretched pad of Sam Gospel, but Luke Spadafora was on hand to slot home the rebound.


The Bison doubled their advantage at 12:30 as Brendan Sellan was found in loads of space in the high slot area and fired low into the bottom corner.


Leeds had looked dangerous from the start with some lovely passing moves, but could not find a way past Max Wright until 14:23, when Liam Peyton opened their account and it remained 2-1 at the first buzzer.


The Herd’s first powerplay of the second period, saw them encamped in the Leeds end. Just as the penalty ran out, Adam Harding’s blue line shot was tipped home by Zach Shankar.


The home side’s man of the match Norcliffe then had a breakaway chance, which went inches wide, before Leeds’ man of the match Danny Harrison skated through the Bison team, but Wright saved his shot.


With just under two minutes left in the period, the visitors reduced the lead to one, as Owen Sobchak from the right wing found Bissonnette at the back post to score.


Just 74 seconds in the final session, the Herd made it 4-2, as Tom Relf sent Norcliffe clear down the right wing and his perfect pass saw Morris score at the back post.


After this it was an end to end affair keeping the fans on the edge of their seats.


Then the chance of the home side scoring was increased when they were given a powerplay.


However, this was ended, when the Herd’s Shankar was dismissed with a 5 + game for checking to the head penalty.


Leeds took full advantage of the man advantage and reduced the lead to one at 54:47, as Harrison slotted in from just outside the slot.


This left the visitors still with 56 seconds on the powerplay, as it was a major penalty.


The Bison penalty kill did its job and kept the Knights out.


With a minute left, Leeds pulled their netminder, but despite a lot of pressure they were unable to force an equaliser as the Herd won a thriller 4-3.


On Sunday in the return game in Leeds, British Bison forward Hallam Wilson reached the marvellous milestone of 300 appearances for the team. 


The Herd were without suspended defenceman Shankar and injured defenceman Baird, so Morris moved back to the blue line brigade from the forward line.


It was the Bison who took the early lead after just 51 seconds on the powerplay, as Sellan found Tom Relf in the high slot.


Leeds came close to an equaliser as Sam Cooper crashed a shot off the crossbar in the fourth minute.


Soon after Jordan Griffin and the Herd’s Will Stead dropped the gloves away from the play and both earned five minutes for fighting. 


Two further Bison powerplays meant they had the better of the opening period and led 1-0 at the first break.


Leeds thought they had equalised at 25:24 after Sam Dunn’s blue line shot produced a goal mouth scramble and Balint Pakozdi put the puck in the net. He had pushed it over the line with his glove so the goal was disallowed.


They did level things five minutes later, as man of the match Bissonnette scored at the back post from Sobchak.


They then took the lead at 32:30 on the powerplay as Peyton netted.


Leeds extended their lead to 3-1 two minutes later, as Bissonnette skated around the net and slotted in. This score remained to the second buzzer. 


The seventh Leeds powerplay of the night saw them extend their lead to 4-1 as Harrison netted after good work from Oli Endicott.


The Bison narrowed the gap on their fifth powerplay of night, after Spadafora found Harding in the high slot to score


With 102 seconds left, the Herd pulled their netminder, but were unable to find the net as Leeds ran out 4-2 winners.


Defenceman Stuart Mogg picked up the visitors man of the match.


This weekend the Bison face a visit from Solway Sharks on Friday night (7,30pm). They then have a double header against the Romford Raiders. The first game on Saturday is at home with a 6.30pm face-off. The game in Essex on Sunday starts at 5.15pm.