WE hope you enjoyed your Christmas and are looking forward to a happy and successful 2015.

All of us at the Bison are looking forward to what promises to be an exciting home stretch to complete the league season.

Although we have slipped to fifth in the league, taking three points out of four against Telford and Manchester last weekend gave us the start to 2015 that we wanted.

December was a frustrating month, losing games that we could have won. Although we conceded two goals against Guildford, we pulled ourselves back into the game. Ciaran Long hit the pipe and had that gone in, momentum would have shifted decisively to us. Instead, Guildford increased their lead immediately afterwards with a breakaway goal.

Our losses against Swindon were even more frustrating. I thought our first period at home against Swindon was the best we had played all season but again momentum shifts, sometimes controversial, left us pointless against a team on a lengthy winning streak.

But we were working hard in training and were confident that our losing run would end.

We play to win and the fans enjoy that winning feeling as much as the players.

So the atmosphere on Saturday was special as we took the league leaders to overtime and penalty shots and secured a win.

Manchester have not enjoyed the success they had last year but they are still a very difficult team to beat on their own ice.

We built a two-goal lead but they pulled those goals back and we found ourselves once again watching the penalty shots, which this time went against us. It was frustrating not to capitalise on a two-goal lead, but satisfying to earn a point.

There’s some great hockey to look forward to. See you Saturday.

All the best,

Doug