Phoenix title blow

 ICE HOCKEY:

BASINGSTOKE Bison all but ended Manchester Phoenix's EPL title hopes with a 4-2 win last night.

Ed Courtenay added two goals to his impressive season's tally for Phoenix, but his side lost further ground on Milton Keynes.

Basingstoke player-coach Steve Moria opened the scoring after 10 minutes and Ondrej Lauko netted a short-hander to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Courtenay bagged a brace before the half-hour mark to level the scores, but Moria notched his second to put the Bison back in front and, five minutes into the final period, Shaun Thompson added his side's fourth.