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A weekend of two halves for Lightning
Milton Keynes Lightning failed to register a single goal for the first time in more than a year as they fell to a 0-2 home defeat against Sheffield Steeldogs on Saturday, in a game which saw them struggle to make an impact on a determined visiting side. A predictably very physical game saw both teams concede a number of penalties but few were used effectively, and it was Sheffield who took their chances to much better effect. However Sunday’s game in Basingstoke went a long way to redeeming Saturday’s loss, when a 2-0 win over the Bison helped restore Lightning’s second place in the league.
With the return of Ross Bowers, the Lightning had hoped to be at full strength, but their defensive lines were unsettled by the absence through injury of Michael Farn. Opposition player coach Andre Payette promised the Lightning a “hard, physical” game and that proved to be the case right from the outset, with Payette himself sitting out the first penalty for charging with less than two minutes gone, but Blaz Emersic found himself in the penalty box only 24 seconds later for tripping – and he was joined on 2m 30s when player-coach Nick Poole was called for delaying the game. The visitors made full use of a 5 on 3 advantage when Payette returned to the ice, scoring within seconds as Edgars Bebris beat a sparse Lightning defense. And the Steeldogs doubled their advantage on 18m 37s when Lloyd Gibson and Ben Morgan set up the ever-dangerous Janis Ozolins to slot home past Barry Hollyhead.
Despite more penalties for both sides in the second period, neither team capitalised on numerical advantage when they had the chances, and whilst Lightning denied their visitors the chance to add to the scoreline, they failed to get themselves onto the scoresheet. With less than three minutes of the final period completed, Lightning import Juraj Gracik was sent to the penalty box for 2+10m by referee Roman Szucks for a check from behind. However despite a rash of penalties on both teams, neither found the back of the net again and the Steeldogs made the journey back to Yorkshire with two valuable points to maintain their place in the chasing pack. A win for Manchester Phoenix against Guildford meant the Lightning fell to third in the league. Result: MK Lightning 0 – 2 Sheffield Steeldogs. MK Lightning Man of the Match: Adam Brittle.
Sunday evening saw a much more coherent and determined Lightning take on Steve Moria’s Basingstoke Bison on the Hampshire team’s own ice. This was never going to be an easy fixture as despite suffering a lacklustre start to the season, the Bison had won seven from their last 10 fixtures prior to meeting the Lightning on Sunday. It looked as if history might repeat itself from Saturday’s game to some extent when, despite a host of penalties on both teams, neither made powerplays work for them -and the first period ended goalless. Then with just under a minute of the second period gone, Leigh Jamieson connected with passes from Ross Green and Nick Poole to beat Bison netminder Colclough and put Lightning in front. Neither team was shot-shy, but Barry Hollyhead was in inspirational form, and the hard work of Ligtning’s defence – again without Michael Farn – paid off, with Bison repeatedly being denied the chance to level the scores. Former Lightning skater Jacob Heron – now playing in Bison colours and contributing regularly for his new team – made his presence felt regularly on Sunday, but his former team mates were far from shy when it came to keeping him firmly in check. Just as it looked as if the score would be a lowly but valuable 1-0 to Lightning, Team GB under 20’s star Ross Green spotted that Bison had withdrawn their netminder for an offensive advantage – and unleashed a long range shot which found its target and ensured that Nick Poole’s team took a very valuable two points home, pushing them back up to second in the league table. Result: Basingstoke Bison 0 – 2 MK Lightning. MK Lightning Man of the Match: Barry Hollyhead.
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