Basingstoke Buffalo 6 Whitley Warriors 6

HONOURS ended even after the first leg of the English National play-off final on Saturday night in Basingstoke.

Just when it looked like the Buffalo would take a lead into last night's second leg, visiting Whitley Warriors scored three goals in the last five minutes to secure a draw.

The home side got off to a dream start as, after just 19 seconds, Drew Campbell netted a James Broadhurst rebound.

The visitors hit back, with Paul Graham hitting the post, before Andrew Carter scored the equaliser at 2:11.

The first penalty of the contest saw Kevin Bucas depart for high sticks and Buffalo man-of-the-match Craig Astill was called upon to save one-on-one from Carter.

The home side then made the most of the man advantage as Ryan Cathcart's blue-line shot came off the goalie's pads and Simon Beere put away the rebound at 8:24.

As the period came to a close, Astill was again called upon to make a great save to deny Carter from close range.

The visitors opened the second period with a score as Carter touched home a Simon McGinnety shot at 23:00.

But the Buffalo took just nine seconds to regain the lead as Darren Elliott netted from a Campbell pass.

Astill produced another good save from Warriors man-of-the-match Carter, gloving his shot over.

The hard working Rob Etheridge hit the post with four minutes left before Mike Newberry, with a lofted pass over the top of the Whitley defence, allowed Anthony Page to skate in and score to make it 4-2 at the second buzzer.

Once again it was the visitors who scored first in the next period as Baxter netted from close range at 42:16.

But a moment of individual magic from Newberry saw the defenceman skate down the left wing and shoot past Stephen Wall in the visitors' net at 45:17.

A super flowing move saw the home side extend their lead. Campbell played the puck out of defence to Elliott, whose cross-ice pass found Page on the opposite wing. The Buffalo skipper then fired the puck across the face of the goal where Campbell converted.

In the confusion of the goal celebrations, Paul McGinnety was dismissed for attempting to spear Elliott.

However, that seemed to give the visitors the kick-start they needed and, having looked second best for most of the game, they came back with a vengeance, scoring twice in 18 seconds.

Both goals were set up by Carter, with Culley finishing them off at the back post.

Worse was to follow as Simon McGinnety netted at 58:08 to leave it all square going into the second leg.

Scoring, Buffalo: Campbell 2+1, Page 1+3, Newberry, Elliott 1+1, Beere 1+0, Cathcart, Etheridge 0+1; Warriors: Carter 2+2, Culley 2+0, McGinnety 1+2, Baxter 1+0, Taylor 0+2, Graham, Bucas, Wall 0+1.

Shots on goal: Astill 37, Wall 37.

Penalties: Bison 18min, Warriors 56.