TWO goals in the final six minutes iof their game at Milton Keynes, saw Basingstoke Bison narrowly lost 2-1 to the Lightning.

Both sides were minus their trio of Great Britain under-20 stars, while MK were reduced to three imports as Petr Horava was injured.

The Herd had the better of the first period, but could not find a way past former Bison goalie Stephen Wall.

The second session saw the visitors take the lead on the powerplay, as Tomas Karpov scored from Ciaran Long at 27:41.

MK went looking for an equaliser and both Blaz Emersic and Grant McPherson were denied by Dean Skinns.

The home side’s Marek Curilla went close on the first powerplay of the final session.

Bison forward Long was then denied one-on-one by Wall, and Joe Baird tested the same goalie on the powerplay.

A boarding call on former MK favourite Michael Wales, saw the home side level as man-of-the-match Milan Kostourek scored, assisted by fellow imports Curilla and Emersic at 54:05.

MK grabbed the winner, thanks to the same combination two minutes later.

With 30 seconds left, Bison goalie Dean Skinns was pulled for the extra skater.

The drama was not over, as 19 seconds later, MK’s McPherson was dismissed for kneeing Bison man-of-the-match Joe Rand.

However, the Herd were unable to force the game into overtime and the loss saw them slip down to fifth in the table.

Tonight, the Bison have the chance to move back up to third place, when they travel to Yorkshire to face the Sheffield Steeldogs (face-off 5.30pm).

This game will see the return of free-scoring Latvian Janis Ozolins, having re-signed this week for Sheffield.