Tied at 4-4 late in the second period, the Lions surrendered 4 unanswered goals and despite some positives, ended the season with another loss.
Outshot 48-32, the Lions fought hard to try and get their first point of the season and very much had Basingstoke in their sights before a power play goal and penalty shot – both harsh – allowed Buffalo to get the edge.
Basingstoke lead after 3.01 but it was tied at 10.03 when a backhand pass from Michael Crosse set up Theo Abban who slammed in the goal. But Basingstoke scored two quick goals to take a 3-1 first period, netting at 18.28 and 18.52.
The Lions, as seems to have happened frequently this season, had an excellent second period. A James Joseph pass found Crosse in a deep position but a neat turn on the boards sent the youngster away to score at 21.40 before a similar effort from James Gosling who also skated from his own half and finished brilliantly, breaking out after a James Hatfull assist at 23.08.
Basingstoke went ahead again at 26.29 but Richard Hodge pulled it level again – assists from Scott Beeson and Crosse just over a minute later.
But two bits of misfortune turned the game Basingstoke’s way before the period was up. A marginal ‘too many men’ penalty allowed a power play goal in the thirty first minute and then a penalty shot was awarded which meant it was 6-4 going into the final period.
Two more for Basingstoke at 50.10 & 55.21 put the game out of reach although Hodge, Crosse and Fox all went close it wasn’t to be.
So the season ends with a home defeat to a good Basingstoke side, but yet again, as in the past few matches, the Lions finding the back of the net before running out of steam in the third. Some positives to note, and close in a number of games to breaking their duck, but the small squad reach the end of a difficult campaign.
MOM:
Theo Abban
Scorers:
Michael Crosse 1+2
Theo Abban 1+0
Richard Hodge 1+0
James Gosling 1+0
James Hatfull 0+1
Scott Beeson 0+1
James Joseph 0+1
N/M Aaron Mallet 48 shots