CONTROVERSY overshadowed the Basingstoke Bison’s 6-5 penalty shot loss to local visiting rivals the Guildford Flames.

Herd player/coach Steve Moria looked to have squared the shoot-out only for his goal not to be given due to a hole in the net.

He was allowed to re-take it and saw his second attempt saved. Then when team mate Ondrej Lauko missed the final penalty shot the home side were beaten.

Over 1,000 fans packed into the Basingstoke Arena as the game went its full distance and the Herd raced into a three goal lead as debut boy Steven Fisher and Steve Moria twice found the net.

After the break, the Flames scored two goals in the space of 35 seconds, as man-of-the-match Nathan Rempel and Paul Dixon found the net.

The Bison hit back to restore their three goal lead as Andrew Hemmings and Bison man-of-the-match Fisher both scored.

However, the offensive clout of the Flames out shot the Bison 19-3 in the final session and thanks to goals from Neil Liddiard, Gary Clarke and Rempel, the game went into overtime.

With no scoring in the extra five minutes, penalty shots decided the game with Rempel netting the winner.

See Monday’s Gazette for a full report and reaction to this controversial defeat.