THE Basingstoke Bison won a nine-goal thriller to record their first home win in only their second game back in the Basingstoke Arena, after over two years away.


However, it was the visiting Milton Keynes Lightning who were first to score after just 29 seconds.


They rotated the puck around the end zone before Archie Salisbury fired in from the blue line.


The Bison hit back two minutes later as Luke Spadafora from the right wing, finished a nice move which involved Brendan Sellan and Stuart Mogg.


Much to the delight of the home fans the Herd grabbed the lead 30 seconds later, as man of the match Adam Harding scored from close range after good work from George Norcliffe and Will Stead.


The Bison then made it 3-1 as Tom Relf released Spadafora down the right wing and he let rip from the top of the circle into the roof of the net.


The goals kept on coming as MK reduced the lead to one as Harry Gulliver netted on the powerplay from the slot at 7:25.


After that both sides had chances, but the score remained 3-2 at the first break.


After the interval, Bison’s Norcliffe and Zack Milton both were denied by Will Kerlin, before the Herd’s goalie Max Wright was called into action making a great save from Janne Jokinen.


The Bison doubled their lead as Harding and Sellan combined and Alex Sampford’s persistence paid off as he scored close in on the powerplay.


MK’s Elliott Lewis then broke clear but was denied by Wright, but Tyton Cathcart was judged to have slased him as he tried to shoot. Therefore the visitors were awarded a penalty shot which man of the match Jordan Cownie converted.


Soon after, the Bison were given a four minute powerplay and Milton went close on a give and go and then Stead’s wrister from the top of the circle was well held by Kerlin.


This left the game still on a knife edge as the Herd led 4-3 at the second break.


After an even start to the final period, the Bison gave themselves some breathing space as Harding won a face-off and forced his way to the net and scored at 55:32.


However, two minutes later, MK set up a nervous finish as they   scored shorthanded after a great rush on the net by Jokinen was saved and Dominik Gabaj netted the rebound.


With a minute left and pushing for an equaliser the visitors pulled their netminder and Milton fired just wide of the empty net as the Bison kept the puck away from their own net.


With 5.1 seconds left the final face-off of the game was in the Bison end zone, but the home side won the draw and with it recorded an excellent 5-4 victory.


Just three days earlier in Milton Keynes the Herd lost 6-4.


This was despite the Bison scoring the opener as Sellan netted assisted by Milton and Spadafora at 9:31.


MK equalised three minutes later from Jarvis Hunt as the first session finished all square.


Man of the match Sellan put the Herd ahead again at 26:22 with help from Liam Morris who got his first point of the season and Zach Shankar.


Evan Nauth made it 3-1 as he finished a move which involved Hallam Wilson and Relf.


Gabaj reduced the lead to one 25 seconds before the second buzzer.


Two goals in the space of three minutes in the final period from Patrik Forsberg and Cownie made it 4-3.


The Bison levelled things as Spadafora scored from Norcliffe and Sellan.


However, MK came again as goals from Josh Saunders and Sean Norris completed the 6-4 win. 


Next for the Bison is a visit from the Bristol Pitbulls on Saturday (6.30pm).


Then on Sunday (5,15pm) they travel to the reigning league champions the Leeds Knights.