Steeldogs 2-5 Basingstoke Bison
Words: Roger Williams (@ElGordoSteel)
Pictures: Jake Oakley (@SnapperJakeO)
Following their last second victory in MK on Saturday, the Bradfield Brewery Sheffield Steeldogs were back in action at iceSheffield. They were still without Legue and Elliott along with Payette after his match penalty in MK.
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| Lee Haywood in possession |
The first 5 minutes of the game saw both sides finding their feet but at 5.53 Basingstoke took the lead. Connolly fired one top shelf past Sedlar after Greener and Shepherd's passing created some space in the slot for him. Sheffield were playing well but when they did generate decent opportunities they seemed to all go wide of Skinns net. Ciaran Long found himself with time and space and shot the puck over a prone Sedlar at 12.45. The first period came to a close with The Steeldogs killing a Lee Haywood penalty and 2-0 down.
With Callum Pattison sitting an early penalty in the second period, Sedlar was called on to make several quick saves to deny Bison their third. Shortly after he joined the action, Patto took offence to a hit from Connolly and got a match penalty for roughing. The subsequent five minute advantage did nothing to improve Dogs spirits as Michael Wales seemed to be invisible to Ref Miller as several dubious hits ended with Connolly scoring assisted by Wales and Chinn. Steve Duncombe got a 2 minute roughing penalty as he returned one of Wales’s hits. Karpov extended the Bison’s lead before Shepherd added number 5, the third during the 5 minute penalty.
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| Lloyd Gibson of the Steeldogs contends for the puck with Declan Balmer of Basingstoke. |
The game looked out of the reach of the Steeldogs at this moment, short benched due to players in the penalty box and Duncombe having been helped off the bench. Brownley took a hit to make a pass but Gibson couldn't squeeze it past Skinns. A Lee Haywood long range pass found Tom Squires who broke thought the Bison rear guard to slot a backhander past Skinns. The goal seemed to bring energy to the Dogs bench and it was Squires who bagged number 2 soon after. The Dogs kept pressing and as Andy Hirst broke through Vantroba took him out and was assessed a Match for clipping at 39.31.
Sheffield started the final period with over four minutes of 5 on 4 but Bison seemed comfortable throughout their time short-handed. The Steeldogs had 1.57 of 5 on 3 as the period approached halfway but again they couldn't beat Skinns. The highlight of a tight 3rd period was Ashley Calvert going on a solo spinorama move, beating everyone including Skinns only for the puck to ping off the upright.
The game drew to a close and Basingstoke took the points, showing everyone at iceSheffield that they are a team that are competing for top spot in the league. Sheffield by the end were short on bodies but certainly not short on grit and determination.
A tough week ahead for The Steeldogs as they regroup in training and then make the journey to Swindon Wildcats on Saturday night and we are back home on Sunday to play the Peterborough Phantoms. Make sure you’re there to welcome Eddie back!
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