Peterborough Phantoms started the National League season with a bang, but they suffered a Bison stampede the following night

But they couldn’t maintain that level the following night, despite a positive start to the game, as they fell to a 7-4 defeat at the hands of Basingstoke Bison at Planet Ice.

Still, after losing all four pre-season matches against divisional rivals, a two-point return could be viewed as satisfactory ahead of a tough double-header weekend against play-off champions Leeds Knights, away on Saturday (6.30pm face-off) and at home on Sunday (5.30pm).

Swindon have seen a couple of high-profile playing retirements since the end of last season, but it was still an impressive opening for Phantoms.

Goals from Ewan Hill and Luke Ferrara either side of a Wildcats reply, gave the city side a 2-1 lead by the end of the first period.

Man-of-the-match Ferrara netted again to enable Phantoms to start the final period with a 3-2 lead which soon stretched to 4-2 when Dominic Gabaj struck, but two quick goals from the hosts made it 4-4 with under 10 minutes to play.

But it was Phantoms who finished the better with goals from Louie Kynaston and Janne Laakkonen, the latter into an empty net in the 59th minute after the home side had pulled their netminder. Visiting netminder, new recruit, Matt Hennessey played well for Phantoms.

And Ash Tait’s men carried that momentum into the start of Sunday’s game when a first goal for the club from Henry Newell – a ripper into the top corner – gave them the lead and Dillon Lawrence followed up with an even better strike to make it 2-0 at the first break.

But it all went to pot in the second period which saw the visitors score four goals without reply. It became 5-2 early in the final session and 6-2 with eight minutes to play. Phantoms did rally towards the end with goals from man-of-the-match Adam Berg and Ferrara either side of a seventh Bison goal.