PAUL Petts scored his first goal of the season as the Basingstoke Bison finished their season with a 4-2 victory in Swindon on Sunday night, writes Graham Merry.

Petts’ opener at 27:35 was a made in Basingstoke goal as he was assisted by fellow former Bison junior players Hallam Wilson and man of the match Thomas Banner.

Canadian Alex Roberts then doubled the advantage, before Swindon replied from Emil Svec to make it 2-1 at the second interval.

The Wildcats levelled things from Aaron Nell inside the final five minutes, but a brace from Ashley Tait including an empty netter sealed the 4-2 victory.

The previous night, Swindon had the better of the first 20 minutes and the Bison had netminder Alex Mettam to thank for not being further than 1-0 down at the break.

He twice saved one-on-one breakaway chances to deny Svec and Floyd Taylor, but had no chance when Chris Jones netted from close range.

Also during the first period the Bison’s British leading goal scorer Aidan Doughty was injured and took no further part in the game.

The second session continued like the first, as Sam Bullas made it 2-0, but then the Herd hit back and by the second buzzer led 3-2 after scoring some excellent goals.

Man of the match George Norcliffe netted the first with a super strike after being found by Alex Sampford.

Ashley Tait scored the second with a slap shot into the roof of the night, before Norcliffe with a right wing rocket struck again.

The Bison then made it 4-2 at 45:23 from Roberts with some silky stick handling.

At this point the home side looked in pole position, but with Swindon reverting to their normal forward lines they piled on the pressure and both Svec and Nell scored to tie the game.

Then just when it looked like the match would go into overtime a shot from Svec looped off the stick of Mettam and fell into the net with 26.6 seconds left to play.

The Bison pulled their netminder straight away, but were unable to force an equaliser.