Published: Thursday, 11th March, 2010 1:00pm

Jets bounce back

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Ice hockey

Jets action against Guildford. Photographer (c) Simon Curtis

THE Slough Jets made their final visit to the Planet Ice Basingstoke a successful one with 4-2 triumph over the Bison on Saturday.

Pete Russell's side bounced back from missing out on a chance for their first piece of silverware for the campaign after suffering Cup heartbreak on Thursday, March 4.

Slough overturned a 4-2 deficit from the first leg against the Guildford Flames as they won 5-3 on the night. Overtime could not separate the sides as it took penalties which Guildford won but the Jets came back strongly at the weekend.

However, it did not start well as Basingstoke scored an early goal to take the lead at 2.13 when Tom Long netted but then picked up two quick penalties giving Slough a five-on-three opportunity.

Slava Koulikov scored at 5.25 on the two man advantage and Peter Poljacek converted the remaining one man powerplay to put Slough into the lead.

The visitors extended their advantage early on in the second period when Joe Greener netted at 22.04 and proceeded to kill off two penalties to retain their lead going into the final period.

Basingstoke dominated the final period, outshooting their visitors by 24-8. However, Ondrej Lauko's powerplay goal at 49.17 was quickly cancelled by Adam Greener scoring at 51.06 to restore the margin.

The Bison called a time-out with 1.12 remaining and opted for the empty net for the remainder of the game but Slough held on and took the points against some familiar faces.

Both teams went into the game high on confidence and looking for a four-point weekend and it was the Slough Jets who prevailed as they beat the Swindon Wildcats 5-2 on Sunday.

Despite an entertaining start to the game it took the first penalty at 13.39 to Slough to allow the visitors to sneak a lead at 15.31 when Raimonds Danilics netted.

The Jets improved in the second period and equalised through Slava Koulikov on the powerplay at 29.24 but Jason Cassells soon put Swindon back ahead at 31.20.

Although Slough did go into the interval all-square thanks to a Ciaran Long goal at 34.51.

The home team owned the third period and managed three unanswered goals. Blaz Emersic put them in front for the first time at 46.50, Peter Poljacek added the fourth at 54.32 and Koulikov secured his man of the match award with his second of the night at 58.39.