BASINGSTOKE Buffalo warmed up for their season-opener with a narrow 5-4 defeat at the hands of the Solent Devils from the league above them.

This will fill the side with added confidence ahead of their first cup game against the Haringey Racers on Sunday (face-off 6.30pm).

Last season, their visit to Basingstoke saw the teams play out a thriller, with the Essex side winning 3-2 and this weekend is expected to be just as close.

On the south coast on Sunday, the Buffalo included defenceman Jack Standing, who was up against his older brother, former Bison goalie Connor Standing.

It was the home side who took a 2-0 lead by the first buzzer, thanks to Ben Lock and Andrew Magee.

Buffalo man-of-the-match Matt Lawday opened the Buffalo account, assisted by Alex Sampford at 27:43.

Magee restored the Devils’ two-goal lead, but the visitors’ levelled things as Hallam Wilson and Bison forward Stuart Mogg combined for Ben Edwards to score.

Then, Roberto Tambellini made the most of good spade work from Ryan Sutton and Edwards.

Solent’s Magee completed his hat-trick at 38:02, which gave the home side a 4-3 advantage at the second break.

The Buffalo took just 44 seconds to tie things again as Lawday converted a pass from Matt Pitts, but the Devils hit back within a minute, as Lock scored his second of the night to secure a 5-4 win.

Solent goalie Standing ended the night having faced 46 shots.

The night before in Basingstoke, the Devils won the first game of the two-match series 8-0, as former Buffalo sharp-shooter Drew Campbell was among the goal-scorers.

Forward Sampford was the home side’s man-of-the-match.