RYAN ALDRIDGE said Leeds Knights left it too late to get going as they sank to a 3-2 defeat in overtime at Basingstoke Bison.

The Bison had travelled to Elland Road after seeing Bristol Pitbulls pick up their first win of the season in Hampshire on Friday night.

But they were determined to bounce back straightaway and were good value for a 2-0 lead that they carried into the third period, courtesy of a ninth-minute opener from former Knights winger Mac Howlett, who then helped set up a power play strike for Sota Isogai at 22.13.

Knights’ head coach Aldridge admitted some words were said at the second period break and, whatever it was, it seemed to have the desired effect, the hosts coming out fired up for the final 20 minutes.

They got their reward when Sam Dunn fired through traffic on the power play at 45.38 but it looked like that was as close as they would get despite at times laying Ethan James’ goal under siege.

But the home crowd erupted with just over two minutes remaining when Owen Sobchak pounced on a rebound off James from Kieran brown’s initial long-range shot to tie the game up.

The Knights found themselves under pressure when Matt Bissonnette was handed a two-minute interference penalty but, literally as the import forward exited the box to return to play Brendan Sellan back-handed past Sam Gospel from close-range to secure the extra point.

“It was a frustrating game,” said Aldridge after Saturday’s loss. “I don't think we got going until the third period.

DECIDER: Brendan Sellan (left) celebrates his overtime winner against Leeds. Picture: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

placeholder image — DECIDER: Brendan Sellan (left) celebrates his overtime winner against Leeds. Picture: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

“Some words were said in the second period break and I think I need to get to that to get a reaction. I think we need to be better.

I said it last week, I thought we were good last Sunday for the most part but I think we need to be better. We played a hard-working, organised hockey team tonight. I think they wanted it a little bit more than we did.

“I think they pressured us and out-battled us in all key areas. I just thought we were off it again and we need to find a way to play 60 minutes.”

The Knights will look to bounce back on Sunday afteroon when they face a first derby clash of the season against Sheffield Steeldogs at Ice Sheffield.

GAME-WINNER: Basingstoke's Brendan Sellan fires the winning goal in overtime to sink hosts Leeds Knights 3-2 on Saturday. Picture: Kev Bland/Knights Media.

The Steeldogs have had a similarly stuttering start to the 2026-27 NIHL National campaign and will also go into the clash at Ice Sheffield on the back of a defeat.

Jonathan Phillips scored twice and Dante Salituro once but it couldn’t prevent a 7-3 defeat at Mitlon Keynes Lightning, the leaders extending their 100 per cent start to seven games under Pete Russell, ahead of a Sunday visit to Romford Raiders, who edged out Swindon Wildcats 5-4 in a shootout on Saturday.