Basingstoke Bison 2, London Racers 4

IF EVER a team did not deserve to lose a match, it was the Basingstoke Bison on Saturday night.

The Herd were not beaten by skill, but ended up losing due to the strong-arm tactics of the visiting London Racers.

The home side, already minus Tony Redmond with concussion due to a hit in the boards last week, also lost Canadian defenceman Duncan Dalmao in the 17th minute as he crashed into the boards after tangling with Racers' Scott Nichol, who punched him in the face as he slid along the ice.

The Canadian defenceman was left unconscious and had to be stretchered off the ice to a chorus of boos from the home fans. Nichol received a two-minute penalty for his actions.

Talking about the incident, Bison head coach and general manager Mark Bernard said: "Duncan getting punched certainly didn't help him as he hit the boards and I think referees have to stop being intimidated by the teams that come into our building."

In an all-action battle from the start, heavyweights Bison Jeff Ewasko and Eric Cairns clashed after 59 seconds, each earning four minutes for roughing.

Debutant Pavol Rieciciar was given a warm welcome by the home fans - and then Racers' Jeremy Cornish delivered his own welcome by punching the Slovakian forward in the face.

A Jeff Vickers slash on Bison Mike Ford left him skating to the bench clearly in pain - but once again referee Andy Carson seemed to miss what happened.

Then when Racers' Jason Hewitt fell over behind the net, up went Carson's arm and Ricky Skene was sent to the sin bin, leaving the Bison faithful not sure whether to laugh or boo.

The second session saw the home side open the scoring at 24:15, as Michael Wales, in his first game this season on a two-way deal with Milton Keynes, slotted home from close range after good work from Rieciciar and Ewasko.

However, the visitors were soon level with a powerplay strike eight minutes later as Yannick Tremblay netted Steve Moria's rebound.

Two minutes later, a big check from Bison Jerry Galway on Moria in centre ice saw the home player immediately jumped on by Moria's team-mate Jason Hewitt. From this, all hell broke loose and players paired off, with even Bison netminder Ronnie Vogel getting involved as he prompted his opposite number Sylvian Daigle to join in.

The outcome when all the gloves, sticks and helmets were removed was Hewitt was dismissed on a match penalty for fighting, while Galway received four minutes for roughing, and the two netminders got two minutes each for leaving the crease.

The final session saw Carson once again feel the wrath of the home fans as he called a checking from behind penalty on Wales.

The visitors were not going to let the gift pass them by and Jeremy Cornish touched home a Jason Robinson blue line shot at 43:14.

Soon after, Lewis Buckman went close with two chances set up by line mates Shaun Thompson and Bison man-of-the-match Greg Wood.

The Bison were back on level terms on 45:51, as Galway's shot was finally touched home by Jim Vickers into his own net as he tried to clear it.

London then scored alucky goal as Dennis Maxwell's shot took a wicked deflection off Wales's stick and flew into the top of the net.

To rub salt into the wounds, the Racers added an undeserved fourth with 46 seconds left as Dusan Halloun netted from close range.

The last piece of action of the night saw Bison's Wales and Racers' Cornish clash on the boards, each receiving four minutes for roughing. While the London player should have got more after throwing his helmet at the home forward at the end of the fight.

Reflecting on the defeat, Bison boss Bernard said: "We have worked hard tonight and have been beaten by a lucky third goal. We deserved better."

The Bison Supporters Club are holding a quiz night on Wednesday evening at the Vision Sports Bar. Starting at 8pm, it is £2 per person in teams of four with a Bison player allocated to each team.