Sheffield Steelers 5-3 Basingstoke Bison

Sheffield without Stevie Duncombe, Basingstoke add Michael Wales

Sheffield avenge their 7-1 thrashing in Hampshire, but Basingstoke came close to taking at least a share of the points.

3066 saw Bison's Doug Sheppard net a short-handed breakaway, but Steelers were 3-1 ahead halfway through the middle session thanks to Martin Masa, Kent Simpson and Paul Sample. Basingstoke player-coach Mark Bernard talked his way to a 10 minute misconduct disputing Masa's equaliser. Shawn Maltby and Edjis Brahmanis had Bison level but final period markers from Rod Sarich and Ron Shudra ensured Sheffield got the win.

Home player-coach Dennis Maxwell and Brad Cruickshank dropped the gloves for double roughing penalties 3 minutes in and Andrew Sande joined them soon after for the first powerplay of the game. Rod Sarich was dispossessed by Sheppard on the edge of the Bison zone and Sheppard raced up the ice. Goalie Jody Lehman came out but Sheppard cooly skated beyond the keepr to net from a narrow angle on the right (4:29). But Masa forced the puck in on the same powerplay after Bernard had blanked Dutiaume at the right post (5:19). Bernard was adamant the puck didn't cross the line.

Less than 4 minutes later a huge check by Dutiaume displaced a piece of plexi and there was a lenghty delay whilst a new piece was cut to size and installed.

Sheffield bossed the remainder of the period, but failed to turn their shots into goals. Brahmanis and Jason Hewitt clashed to leave the sides skating 4-on-4 and 47 seconds later Sande took an interference penalty for 4-on-3.

As Brahmanis and Hewitt stepped onto the ice Kent Simpson spun and fired Sheffield ahead (20:39) from 8 feet and Sheffield continued to dominate the game.

Ron Shudra fired in from the right and Sample and Warren Tait couldn't bury the loose puck, but Hewitt low on the right picked out Sample on the doorstep for the third (30:52).

Sheffield took their foot off the gas and the fast-breaking Bison made them pay. Galway lofted the puck down the left wing, Sarich went to glove the bouncing puck but missed leaving Maltby clean through behind him. Maltby fired the puck home over Jody Lehman's right shoulder (33:18). A minute later Jim Shepherd broke away up the left and his pass to the far post was met first-time by captain Doug Sheppard, but Lehman dived full-length to push the puck wide, an unbelievable stop. But the visitors levelled soon after, Brahmanis netting from the left wing (37:27).

Early in the final period Michael Wales ghosted in to Lehamn's left post and the goalie made a point-blank save. But gradually Sheffield again took control.

Jason Robinson was serving a tripping penalty when Maxwell's long pass found Rod Sarich and he fired home between Bernard's pads from distance (51:07). Two minutes later Dutiaume won a face-off and a trademark rocket from Ron Shudra killed the game (53:21).

Bison ddin't give up, but Lehman only had 2 further saves to make, whilst Simpson's quick pass saw Bernard deny Dutiaume on the doorstep. As Simpson chased the puck into the corner he clashed with Jim Shepherd and Maxwell joined in. Simpson and Shepherd took double roughing penalties, whilst Maxwell was given a game misconduct for third man in. With the teams waiting to restart Michael Wales received a 10 minute misconduct for comments made whilst sat on his team bench and before he reached the penalty box a second misconduct saw him also exit for an early bath.