BASINGSTOKE Bison were unable to make it two penalty shoot-out wins on the trot as they lost at Manchester Phoenix 4-3.

Adam Walker was the home side’s hero as he converted the sixth penalty shot past Dean Skinns.

The Bison goalie was also beaten by James Archer, but saved Frankie Bakrlik’s effort.

Manchester’s Stephen Fone denied both Joe Rand and Tomas Karpov who had scored the previous night in the shoot-out win over Telford.

Ciaran Long who suffered a rare miss on Saturday night, netted against the Phoenix with his side’s second shot to make it 1-1 at the time.

Earlier, in the contest the Herd still without Matt Selby, Grant Rounding and Nicky Chinn got off to a great start as they scored on the first powerplay of the night, thanks to Andy Melachrino assisted by Bison man-of-the-match Rand.

The visitors then extended their lead at 11:56, as Doug Sheppard scored and it remained 2-0 at the first buzzer.

Manchester pulled a goal back from Robin Kovar and then four seconds before the second interval they tied the game as man-of-the-match Shaun Thompson netted.

The Bison took the lead again on the powerplay at 50:20, as Karpov scored and then Sheppard hit the post.

Manchester made sure the game ended 3-3 in regulation time as Thompson netted his second of the game.

Overtime failed to split the teams, even if Manchester fell foul to a too many men on the ice call at 63:44.

So the outcome was decided by a penalty shoot-out with the Manchester taking the extra point.

Next up for the Bison is a home game against third placed Peterborough Phantoms who won at league leaders Telford last night 5-4.