DAN Weller-Evans recorded his first shut-out of the season, as the Basingstoke Bison finished their home league campaign with a 3-0 victory over the visiting Milton Keynes Thunder.

The shot stopper turned away all the 16 shots he faced in a contest the Herd dominated from start to finish.

The game also saw teenage defenceman Thomas Banner make his Bison debut.

It was the visitors who had the best early chance, but Olly Stone was unable to tap the puck home from close range.

The excellent Bison forward line of George Norcliffe, Hallam Wilson and Michal Klejna carved out a number of good opportunities, but Jordan Lawday denied them every time.

Meanwhile, Weller-Evans made saves from Trevor LeBlanc, Joe Edwards and Stone, before Lawday produced a superb triple stop from Ashley Tait, Russ Cowley and Jay King in quick succession.

Adam Harding came the closest yet for the home side, as he hit the post early in the second session and the chances continued to come thick and fast, but it remained 0-0.

The deadlock was broken at 29:58 after Ashley Tait fed Alex Sampford from behind the net and his lovely pass saw Harding slot home.

MK hit back as Weller-Evans denied LeBlanc with a nice save and then Harding doubled his account on the night with a lovely top corner strike.

Just 15 seconds later, the Herd made it 3-0 as lively duo Oscar Evans and Paul Petts set up a chance for Klejna to score.

The final period saw Norcliffe have the first chance of the session, which was kicked away.

At 41:32, Banner had his first ever Bison shift of the game cheered on by his team mates.

The final penalty of the game saw the Herd go on the powerplay, but firstly it was MK who went close as Rio Grinell-Parke released LeBlanc, but he failed to beat Weller-Evans with his breakaway chance.

Richard Bordowski then went close just as the powerplay ended.

After this Lawday kept the Bison out, while MK’s Tomas Rubes was twice denied by Weller-Evans, as he made sure of his shut-out.

The Herd’s victory over MK still leaves them with the chance of pipping Peterborough for second spot in the league.

However, the Bison still have to win at Invicta this evening and Phantoms have to fail to pick up a point at home to Streatham.

Next weekend, the Bison start their play-off campaign with their home game on Sunday evening (5.30pm) and tickets are already on sale for this as it is a non-season ticket game.