Thanks to Bobblehat for this report...
This game started at a frantic pace as do most derby games, and by 3min 17sec both sides had scored. The first by the Bees at 1min 37sec was well worked. Shayne McCosh passed out of defence to Dale Junkin who took on the Bison defence down the left, and kept two players occupied in trying to stop him. He released a perfectly weighted pass across the Bison goal, and there was Reggie Crawford steaming in from the left to notch up his first ISL goal. Some loose play then followed defending from the Bees who seemed to have a hangover from their previous night's exertions in Manchester. A wonderful pass inside by the Bees inside their own blue line set up the second goal, the trouble was the pass went straight to Darren Hurley who made no mistake 1-on-1 with Bernie at 3min 17secs. There followed a nightmare period for the Bees. They were far too casual, too many passes found Bison players and their whole game was ragged and disjointed. The worst spell was between the 9th and 11th minutes when first Black missed when it was easier to score, and then Bernie made a great save from Maybury. We in Block 5 feared the worst as the Bison continued to press forward and the Bees defence seemingly let them come. Thank goodness Bernie seemed to be his usual reliable self. At 14min 30sec Tom Gomes' persistence nearly paid off as surrounded by Bison he brought a great save from Gallace, and then 15 seconds later it was Bernie's turn to deny ex- Bee Garden. It was becoming end-to-end stuff and a typical derby. At 15min 20sec Joe Ferraccioli was through on Gallace who made a great point blank save - it looked like being honours even for the first period. Then well inside the final minute of the first period with Rob Stewart sitting out a 2min Cross checking penalty came the sweetest moment that any ice hockey fan knows - a shorthanded goal for your side in a local derby!! Brian Pellerin's persistence behind the Bison goal paid off, and his lay back to Greg Burke was spot on, and Greg gave Gallace no chance as he gleefully fired home into the bottom left hand corner. 2-1 at 19min 20sec and that was the period score.
The Bees had played diabolically, had been kept in the game by Bernie, but were 2-1 up, so the Bison fans must have been wondering what had happened. We know-alls in Block 5 remarked that the Bison would come out storming in the second period going all-out for a quick equaliser. At 20min 41secs we said "told you so" as Merv the Perv Priest put one past Bernie with assists from Maybury and Garden. Good hockey then followed with the Bees finally emerging from their first period slumbers, and Joe Ferraccioli just couldn't quite make contact at 21min when alone in front of goal. At 21min 21 secs the Bees fans had a heart-stopping moment as Bernie was pole-axed and as he was flat on the ice, Garden appeared to have another go at him. Bernie lay motionless on his back for what seemed an age and the Bees' medical man was escorted onto the ice. Thank goodness nothing serious had been done and Bernie had apparently only been winded. A slack change by the Bison at the 25min mark seemed to have caught them with too many men on the ice, but only the officials missed this one as 2000 fans were at pains to point out. The Bees were now gaining momentum, and were keeping the Bison defence well occupied. At 27min 7secs with the Bees attacking again, from a pass by Dale Junkin, Shayne McCosh fired through a mass of players in front of the Bison goal and gave an unsighted Gallace no chance. At 28min 14 sec Jeff Johnstone was through onto the Bison goal, but was held back by Kendall who only received a 2min minor. (I thought that if a player is through on goal and is judged to have been unfairly impeded a penalty shot should be awarded - no doubt someone will put me right!!). The Bees extended their lead further at 35min 33secs with a carbon copy of their first goal. Brian Pellerin again was all persistence on the right wing and, even though he was receiving the very close attention of a hassling Bison, managed to release a spot on pass across the Bison goal to Reggie Crawford coming in at speed from the left wing. The look on Reggie's face left no doubt that he was going to make that puck his, and despite being held back he gave Gallace no chance from close in. Less than two minutes later it was 5-2 as at last the Bees' powerplay produced a goal. With Joe Stefan sitting out a tripping minor, some slick inter-passing drew the Bison defence all over the place, and Tom Gomes came into an unguarded centre and slotted home from Bucsis and Ferraccioli at 36min 57secs.
The third period was all Bees with little or no opposition from the Bison. At 43min 15secs the puck ping-ponged around in front of the Bison goal and it was a very relieved Gallace who finally fell on the puck. At 48min Whistle was through on a 1-on-1 but Gallace pulled off a good save. He again saved the Bison as he deflected a screaming slap shot from the Chief at 49min 35secs. No doubt that Gallace was keeping the Bison from further humiliation. Greg Burke skated through the bison defence at 57 minutes only to see his wrist shot well saved by Gallace. Bison fans were now starting to leave - oh ye of little faith!! The Bison then set up a rare foray into Bees' territory. A crowd of players in front of the Bees' goal left an unsighted Bernie with no chance as Big Foot Dungey fired home from the point at 57min 52secs. With assists going to Garden and Kendall. The Perv was through on goal a few seconds later but a joyful sight for the Bees' fans as he fell a*** over t** with no Bees' player anywhere near. At 59min 10 secs the Bison called a time-out, and at 59min 30 secs the Perv thought he had scored, but the puck had sailed parallel to the line but had not crossed. The last period score line should have read 4-1 to the Bees but finished 0-1 to the Bison. It didn't matter to the cheering Bees' fans as the final score was 5-3 to the Bees. On this showing Manchester Kurt's table predictions might be slightly wrong.