FOR the second time running the Basingstoke Bison suffered the heartbreak of losing in a penalty shoot-out at the Manchester Phoenix.

Only last month, the Herd lost on their last visit to Altrincham and it was same again on Sunday evening by the same scoreline 4-3.

After 65 minutes failed to split the sides, the game was decided by a shoot-out.

Bison’s Tomas Karpov was the first shooter, but his effort was padded away by Phoenix goalie Stephen Fone.

Adam Walker who scored the winner last time around, saw his shot saved by Dean Skinns.

Top Bison penalty shooter Ciaran Long was then denied by Fone.

Phoenix import Michal Psurny put the home side in front as he found a way past Skinns.

This meant Joe Greener had to score to take the shoot-out to sudden death.

Unfortunately, he was unable to and Manchester took the win after another thrilling game.

Earlier in a very tight contest, the home side were the first to score at 12:25, thanks to Frankie Bakrlik with a shot from just inside the blue line.

The Bison levelled things just 11 seconds before the first buzzer from Joe Rand.

Manchester took the lead again in the second session from Psurny, only for Aaron Connolly to keep it even after 40 minutes.

The Phoenix scored the first goal of the final period at 53:42, but just six seconds later Joe Greener tied the game again.

With no further scoring even in overtime, the game was decided by penalty shots which the Phoenix won.

Defencemen Ben Wood and Bison’s Declan Balmer picked up the man-of-the-match awards.

This weekend, the Herd have only one game and they will hope to extend their winning home run to six games when they entertain the Sheffield Steeldogs (face-off 6.30pm).