THE Basingstoke Buffalo go in search of their first silverware of the season this weekend at the National Ice Hockey League Cup finals at Oxford.

The Buffalo are involved in the first semi-final against the Peterborough Islanders on Saturday (5.30pm).

The second semi-final, later on the same evening, will see competition favourites Slough Jets take on the Chelmsford Warriors.

The final gets under way on Sunday at 5.15pm and tickets can be purchased for the weekend on the door or from the Bristol Pitbulls website.

Last weekend, the Buffalo booked their place in the promotion play-offs despite losing their top-of-the-table encounter with the Bristol Pitbulls 4-0 in Oxford.

The Basingstoke side are now assured of a top-two finish in the South Two West table, but the title race looks set to go right to the wire.

The Buffalo are top at the moment, two points ahead of Bristol having played one more game.

They complete their league campaign with an away trip to Cardiff on Saturday, April 11.

Bristol have two games left – at Cardiff on April 5, before a trip to Wightlink Tigers on April 12.

Should the teams end up level on points, Bristol will take the title thanks to a series victory over the Buffalo, due to their 4-0 win at Oxford on Saturday.

The first 20 minutes saw just one goal from Jamie Newton at 13:02 as Jordan Lawday in the visiting goal was beaten just once in 24 shots.

Newton doubled the advantage in the second session and James Warman made it 3-0 14 seconds before the buzzer.

Former Bison forward Richard Hargreaves completed the 4-0 win as man-of-the-match Lawday had a very busy night, facing 65 shots in the game.