By Xanthe Boursier-Gazzard

The Bristol Honda Pitbulls fell to a 6-2 defeat against the Milton Keynes Lightning last night in the Pound following a game that saw the visitors take an early lead.

The home team continued to be without imports Mitch Walinski as well as Tanner Butler through injury; however, they saw the addition of coach Bari McKenzie back into the lineup for the evening.

The first period was swiftly underway, and both teams battled for possession in the opening ten minutes, taking the puck end to end with shots coming from Milique Martelly and Ben Solder for the visitors and Cameron Hamill and Bayley Harewood for the Pitbulls. Milton Keynes managed to retain the puck from here as Tim Wallace rifled a shot to the back of the netting, opening the scoring for the evening. Carter Hamill doubled the scoreline soon after, bouncing the puck high to light the lamp, chased by Martins Susters, who sniped a clean shot to the back of the net past Tommy Nappier on the power play, giving the Lightning a three-goal cushion at the end of the first.

Mason Lipsey got the breakaway early on in the second period, maintaining speed to cut past Edward Knaggs and swing the puck past Will Kerlin, getting the home side onto the scoreboard. Rhys Smetham followed with a shot to the chest of Kerlin; however, the visitors would be the next to push the puck over the line with Toms Rutkis making it past the messy exchanges made in front of the net, allowing the Lightning to retain their three-goal lead.

Sean Norris and Jordan Spadafore both extended the scoreline for the away side in the final twenty minutes, taking them six goals up just before the home team made a netminder change to new signing Harry Thomas. As Patrik Forsberg headed to the penalty box to sit a four-minute high-sticking call, Lipsey was able to find the back of the net once again getting his second goal of the night, cutting past Kerlin to finalise the score at 6-2.

Man of the Match for MK Lightning went to Milique Martelly and to Mason Lipsey for your Bristol Honda Pitbulls.

Image : Pete Fears

Xanthe