Manchester Phoenix 5 Basingstoke Bison 2

Manchester Phoenix climbed to second place in the English Premier League with a comprehensive win over title rivals Basingstoke Bison on Sunday night.

Phoenix came into the game at full strength for the first time in a number of weeks, as they welcomed back Fratisek Bakrlik from injury, but were also desperate to get back to winning ways after suffering yet another 7-2 thumping away to Milton Keynes Lightning on Saturday.

It was Bison who took the lead, though, when Milos Melicherik put Bison ahead on 10 minutes, but two goals in half a minute saw Phoenix on the front foot. Ben Wood rattled in an equaliser just after 11 minutes, and Bakrlik got a welcome marker just 31 seconds later.

Luke Boothroyd added a third for Phoenix just after the start of the second period, and grabbed his second, and a fourth for Phoenix, on 30 minutes.

Phoenix had a goal disallowed at the end of the second period due to an injury to Bison goalie Dean Skinns, and the period was concluded early. When the teams reappeared after the break, the remaining 67 seconds were played and Tomas Karpov pounced to get Bison back in the game with a goal timed at 39:36.

Bison continued to press, but found Phoenix goalie Steve Fone in inspired form, and the game was ended as a contest when James Archer netted a welcome fifth goal for Phoenix on 57 minutes.

The win puts Phoenix in joint second place with Bison, both of whom are on 50 points, behind Guildford Flames in top spot just one point ahead. Phoenix, though, have three games in hand over Bison and four in hand over Flames.

Phoenix are at home to Slough Jets next Sunday 19 January, game starts at 5:30pm.