THE Basingstoke Bison booked their place in the South One play-off final after a comfortable 3-0 home win against the London Raiders to complete a 10-4 aggregate victory.

They will now meet the Peterborough Phantoms this coming weekend, with the first game in Cambridgeshire on Saturday, followed by the return on home ice on Sunday at 5.30pm.

Dean Skinns' shut-out a record eighth of the campaign a Bison goalie was even more impressive as defenceman Joe Baird (injury) and Dan Scott (suspended) were both missing, so forward Hallam Wilson took on blue line duties for this game.

In a very physical contest which referee Tim Pickett allowed a lot to go, the Herd had the better chances in the first period, but were unable to find a way past London's man of the match Michael Gray.

The pick of his saves was a lovely glove catch from a Stuart Mogg shot, after a great set-up from Roman Malinik.

The second period continued like the first with good home pressure and Gray produced a superb double save to deny both Dan Davies and Ivan Antonov.

A super move from Malinik and Davies set-up Grant Rounding, but an equally good save denied him.

The home side then opened their account at 33:33, after Malinik's low shot was tipped home by man of the match Josh Smith.

Soon after, the visitors were give a powerplay, but it Malinik who went closest on the back hand shorthanded.

With two minutes left in the session, Gray produced another great pad save to deny Rounding as he spun on a pass from Wilson.

The Herd did doubled their lead with 1.6 seconds left in the period, as the puck went in off the skate of Smith, after Kurt Reynolds' shot cannoned off Gray's pads.

The Romford players appealed it had been kicked in, but the goal was given.

The final period saw Marek Nahlik have an early chance and Jake Sylvester forced a save from Skinns, before the Bison made it 3-0.

Malinik was released by Wilson and he skate away, before sending across an inch perfect pass for Paul Petts to slot home at 49:12.

After this it was London who had the better of the chances and the impressive Brandon Ayliffe cracked a shot off the helmet of Skinns from the top of the circle.

The same London player then fed Sylvester, but again Skinns was equal to the chance as he went on to to complete a 23 shot shut-out.

In the final seconds of the game, Smith was denied a hat-trick by Gray.