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Phoenix fall to the Bison

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Basingstoke Bison 4 - Manchester Phoenix 2

Phoenix scorers: Michal Psurny and Tony Hand

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix lost only their second game of the season in Basingstoke on Saturday night with a 4-2 loss.

The game started well for Phoenix and their slick passing game was working well as they took an early lead with a fine goal from Michal Psurny. A passing move between James Archer and Tony Hand saw Michal sweep the puck past Dean Skinns in the Bison net on 3.59. Phoenix had a good 5 minutes after this and Skinns had to be alert to stop them adding to the lead. Bison, however, clawed their way back into the game and when Frankie Bakrlik sat out a slashing call (flavour call of the night for the officials) Aaron Connolly scored on the power play, assisted by Nicky Chinn and Doug Sheppard. One could argue that Mr Connolly was lucky to still be on the ice after a nasty butt end on Robert Schnabel which resulted in the big defender taking no further part in the game. Phoenix fell foul of the officials again three quarters through the period but took the lead on 17.47 with a beautiful tic-tac-toe goal. This time Tony Hand was free at the back post after a lovely move involving Michal Psurny and Luke Boothroyd. A fairly even period just shaded by Phoenix ended with the visitors leading 2-1.

Phoenix spent nearly half of the second period on the penalty kill and Bison took full advantage with a dominant period for them. They equalised on one of the power plays on 33.22 through Miroslav Vantroba assisted by Joe Greener and Joe Rand. 2-2 after 40 mins with Bison out-shooting Phoenix 17-4 in the period.

Bison had the upper hand early on when Ben Wood was surprisingly called for an innocuous challenge on the laughing Nicky Chinn and Joe Rand made it 3-2 on 42.22 assisted by Joe Greener and Tomas Karpov. There was no way back for Phoenix as Bison closed the game up, not allowing the Phoenix free flowing game to bring dividends and they ended the night’s scoring with 8 minutes left with a Zach Sullivan goal. Final score 4-2 to Bison.