AN injury-hit Manchester Phoenix began the New Year with an important three-point weekend after losing in overtime in Sheffield on Saturday before edging Basingstoke Bison at home the following night.

Phoenix, who were already without forward Jacob Heron with a fractured jaw, also lost captain Luke Boothroyd for up to six weeks after a freak hand injury on New Year’s Eve.

On Sunday, Tony Hand's side fell behind by two goals in the first period before starting the fightback in the middle frame.

Goals from Robin Kovar and Shaun Thompson cancelled out two early Bison strikes from Andrew Melachrino and Doug Sheppard, but the hosts fell behind again in the third period after a Tomas Karpov powerplay goal nudged Basingstoke ahead 3-2.

Phoenix clawed themselves level once again with another goal from Thompson on a delayed penalty call, allowing Hand’s side to make the extra man count in the dying minutes.

Neither side could find a winner in overtime leaving Adam Walker and James Archer to net crucial shootout goals while netminder Steve Fone shut the door on Bison’s Joe Rand and Karpov to seal the win.

The previous evening Phoenix came back from across the Pennines with an overtime point after going down 4-3 to close rivals Sheffield Steeldogs.

Two goals from Frantisek Bakrlik and one from Joe Graham helped Phoenix into overtime where they lost the extra point after a goal from Sheffield’s Janis Ozolins secured the home side the extra point.

Phoenix will have the chance to exact revenge for the defeat as they host the Steeldogs in Altrincham on Thursday night before travelling to Swindon Wildcats on Saturday and hosting league leaders Telford on Sunday.