Basingstoke Bison Ladies 4, Basingstoke Bears 1

THE Basingstoke Bison Ladies won this intense local derby game with the Basingstoke Bears last Sunday.

In the first-ever league meeting between these sides, it was the Bison Ladies who opened the scoring, as Rachel Harrison netted from just inside the blue line from an Andrea Jeffrey pass at 4:08.

The Bears' Natalie Mullins then had a shot saved, before Julia Burns hit the post.

The impressive Amy Heron in the Bears' net produced a double block to deny both Burns and Harrison from close range.

That proved a big stop as 13 seconds later, at 10:58, the visitors equalised. Caroline Vernon's back-hand shot was saved by Michaela Walker, but captain Natalie Rambridge followed up to net the rebound.

After that, both teams had chances, with Bexta Kelly going close for the Bears and Jess Heath and Natalie Aldridge for the home side.

Bison's Caroline Kelly saw her shot sticked away soon after the break and the home side regained the lead as Emma Toose scored from close range from a Carla Massey pass.

The Bison Ladies had the better chances for the rest of the period, but Heron, who was voted the Bears' most valuable player, stood firm with a number of excellent saves.

The Bison did extend their lead at 36:35, as Burns tapped home at the post after good work from Aldridge and Harrison.

The first action of the final period saw Hannah Driver crash a shot off the crossbar, before the Bears' Karen Probin forced a nice save from Lita-Lee Jarrod who had taken over in goal for the final session.

The final goal of the game saw Harrison score her second of the contest at 46:46 after Aldridge's rebound was saved.

The Bears tried to add to their tally, with Rambridge coming closest from a nice Julie Saint feed, but the game ended 4-1.

The teams will face each other again later in the season which, no doubt, will once again be a hotly-contested match. A date has yet to be confirmed.