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Hell in Hampshire for Phoenix

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Basingstoke Bison 5 - Manchester Phoenix 1

Phoenix Scorer: František Bakrlík

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix suffered a big loss in Basingstoke against their main title rivals on Saturday night.

The first period was pretty even with Phoenix having the first chance of the game as Dean Skinns in the Bison net pulled off a point blank glove save to deny Tony Hand. Phoenix were having the better of the early exchanges but the home side took the lead on 16.23. Joe Greener banked the puck of the bottom of Stephen Fone’s skate and it crept into the net for 1-0. Bison doubled their lead 26 seconds later as youngster Andrew Melachrino broke away and finished superbly, high into the net. The period ended with the home side leading 2-0

Three goals in 5 minutes in the second period put the visitors behind the eight ball as Bison’s potent offence took control. Melachrino hit his second of the evening on 24.11, Nicky Chinn roofed a Ciaran Long rebound on 28.49 and Tomas Karpov broke out and beat Fone through the five hole for 5-0. Frantisek Bakrlik got Phoenix on the scoresheet on 35.46 with a superb shot from the slot. Assists went to Michal Psurny and Robin Kovar.

Both teams had chances to add to their tally in the third but Bison closed out the game to take the points.

This result gives the Bison a 4 point lead over Phoenix, however Manchester have 4 games in hand and the Bison still have to visit the Dome for the final match up between the teams.

Phoenix are back in action on Sunday against the Bracknell Bees with the usual face off at 1730hrs