FIVE unanswered third period goals sent the Basingstoke Bison crashing to their worst defeat of the season, as they lost 8-3 at Manchester Phoenix.

It started so well for the Herd, as Tomas Karpov scored for the second night running, as he completed a move involving Michael Wales and Declan Balmer.

The Herd then had a goal disallowed by referee Andrew Miller, as the puck had hit the face cage of Phoenix goalie Stephen Fone.

The Bison did doubled their lead at 13:45, as Karpov turned provider for Wales to score and it remained 2-0 at the first buzzer.

The Phoenix opened their account on the powerplay from Robin Kovar at 26:53 and two minutes later Frantisek Bakrlik tied the game with another powerplay strike.

The Bison hit back to lead again, as Ciaran Long scored, but the first of a hat-trick from Michal Psurny, left the scores level after 40 minutes.

Any hopes the Herd would maintain their 100 per cent record against the reigning champions this season were soon dashed, as Tony Hand made the most of a timely slip from a Bison defenceman, to score shorthanded and then Adam Walker made it 5-3 at 45:40.

In between the two goals the visitors lost defenceman Balmer to 2+10 checking from behind penalty and then Joe Greener picked up a 10 minute rest in the sin bin for abuse.

The Phoenix then scored three times in the final eight minutes, as Psurny netted either side of a Ben Wood strike.

At the final buzzer, Greener picked up his second 10 minute penalty of the night and was dismissed.