THE Basingstoke Bison maintained their perfect home start to the season, as they beat the visiting Peterborough Phantoms 5-2 on Saturday night.

The result was sweet revenge for the Herd, who lost last Sunday in Peterborough 5-1.

The home side were minus a trio of British forwards, Bayley Harewood, Paul Petts and Oscar Evans, while the Phantoms were without Corey McEwen and Connor Pollard.

The Phantoms were first to find the net at 2:50, as Petr Stepanek deflected home a Martin Susters’ shot.

In an even first 20 minutes, The Herd levelled things in the sixth minute, thanks to a lovely back hand finish from Richard Bordowski.

Just 39 seconds into the second session the home side took the lead after captain Elliott Dewey’s shot hit Ashley Tait on its way into the net.

The Bison went looking to add to their tally and Michael Klejna cannoned a shot off the face mask of Jordan Marr and then Liam Morris released Ryan Sutton, but his shot was saved by Marr.

A penalty on Tom Norton saw an excellent home powerplay as Marr denied Sutton and Norcliffe.

The home side extended their lead at 33:44, after Alex Sampford and Klejna combined for Norcliffe to score.

However, Peterborough kept themselves in the game with a goal four minutes later, as Nathan Pollard made the most of a nice pass from Stepanek, which made it 3-2 at the second break.

The game was then won with two goals in the space of three minutes in the final period.

The first came on the powerplay as Norcliffe deflected home a blue line shot from Adam Jones.

The second was scored at close range from Sampford at 48:49.

The Phantoms tried to get themselves back into the game, but Alex Mettam in the home net made sure there was no way back for them.

At the end of the game the man of the match awards went to a pair of defencemen Bison’s Ollie Stone and Peterborough’s Scott Robson.

This evening (4.30pm), the Herd are in action in Yorkshire against the second placed Sheffield Steeldogs. They won in Milton Keynes last night 5-0.