Basingstoke's Joe Miller gets the better of Stephen Fone (courtesy of Nick Ogden)

MANCHESTER, UK - MANCHESTER Phoenix grip' on their English Premier League title is loosening after another typically inconsistent weekend.

A superb 6-2 win at Bracknell Bees on Saturday was followed by a 4-3 loss at home to Basingstoke Bison last night to leave them eight points behind leaders Guildford.

Once again Phoenix let a winning position slip to ensure they are still seeking their first four-point weekend since September.

It was the same old story as powerplay chances went begging and a physical team got the better of them.

In front of a healthy Sunday night crowd in the Ice Dome, Phoenix got off to the best possible start when Jaroslav Spelda combined with Juraj Faith for Slava Koulikov to sweep past Matt Colclough in the Bison goal.

Basingstoke's Joe Miller was causing Manchester problems but the home side doubled their advantage when Martin Cingel fired a wonderful low shot off Koulikov and Spelda's work for 2-0 after nine minutes.

Phoenix were in cruise mode and weathering everything the Bison had to throw at them, but the away side were handed a lifeline on 12:26.

Viktor Kubenko picked off a defensive lapse in the neutral zone, got into Manchester's territory, then cut back inside and blasted an unstoppable shot high into Stephen Fone's goal.

Spelda cleared off his own line early in the second before Jacob Heron hit the post as Basingstoke pressed.

And they got the goal their play deserved when Kubenko added his second in the 29th minute.

Miller then made it 3-2 to the Bison only for Ladislav Harabin to tie it up for the Champions within seconds.

Basingstoke ran into penalty trouble in the third but Manchester couldn't take advantage – spurning five opportunities on the night.

And once Nicky Chinn put the Bison ahead on 46 minutes, Phoenix really did look a shadow of the team that swept all before them last season.

Basingstoke upped their physical play and Manchester had no answer – but they did have a sniff of forcing the game into overtime in the final minute.

Daniel Volrab was sent to the bin for Tripping and Phoenix pulled Fone to make it 6-on-4 – but Spelda's tame effort from the right of the blueline was all the pressure they could muster.

As is becoming all too frequent, Saturday night's performance was in stark contrast.

Koulikov opened the scoring on 16:05 assisted by Luke Boothroyd and Faith before Faith added one of his own in the second period.

Duggan then made it 3-0 as Phoenix battled the Bees' physical play and Spelda put it beyond doubt before the end of the period.

Lukas Smital pulled a goal back on 35.57 but Faith's second and Cingel's late goal ensured a comfortable win.

To contact the author email: Mike.Appleton@prohockeynews.com