Lukas Smital’s side were without the influential Vanya Antonov but it didn’t stop them running out 3-1 winners against an experienced Manchester side.

It was Phoenix who came flying out the blocks and Alex Mettam had to be on top form to deny the visitors taking an early lead.

But 10 minutes in and there was nothing he could do as Adam Walker and Michael Psurny combined beautifully, with the latter firing past Mettam to give the visitors the lead.

Josh Smith was assessed for a hooking minor straight after the opening goal, but Bees saw off the two minute period and fought their way back into the contest.

Smital went close with a snapshot before the home side drew level seconds before the buzzer.

Luke Boothroyd had received a high sticking penalty for the hosts, and Bees made the powerplay count when James Galazzi deflected home a Jan Bendik strike.

Both sides had opportunites early in the second period as the pendulum swung between each side.

Matt Towalski went closest for Bees, before he set up Smital on a breakaway play and he made no mistake firing home to put Bees ahead.

The hosts were severely tested when two penalties in quick succession saw them have to play four minutes with a man less, but they stood firm and reached the end of the second period a goal to the good.

It was a tense start to the third period, before Phoenix came into the game and started to test Mettam as they looked to force their way back into the game.

The contest was free flowing but it was Bees who grabbed the all important fourth goal, when Radek Hubacek forced the puck home at the second attempt after a scramble near the Phoenix net.

Again Bees had to play the final four minutes with a man less due to two quick penalties but they held on to grab a superb victory in front of an excited home crowd.

Smital’s side remain bottom of the table, but are within touching distance of the teams above them after recording their fourth win of the season.

It wasn’t such good news on Sunday for the Bees, as they fell to a 6-4 defeat at Invicta Dynamos in the British Challenge Cup.

Dynamos are a league below Bees, but had the upperhand throughout as they took the lead after just two minutes when Andy Smith fired home a rebound from an Arran Strawson shot.

Seven minutes in and Juraj Huska converted a Dynamos breakaway as they went 2-0 ahead in front of a jubilant home crowd.

Bees remained calm though, and found a way back into the contest two minutes later when Matt Foord tipped a Sam Waller shot from distance into the net.

The rest of the period saw plenty of chances at either end but the score remained 2-1 at the end of the period.

Dynamos struck the pipework at the start of the second period, before Bees came back into the game and forced Mark Lee in the hosts’ net to make several impressive saves.

But Smital’s side finally got the goal they deserved on the powerplay when Lewis Turner finished well to draw his side level.

Late penalties were exchanged but neither side could take advantage as the scores remained level at the end of the second period.

With all to play for it promised to be an enthralling third period, but no one predicted six goals in a frantic last session.

It was the hosts who raced into the lead, with two goals in two minutes putting the hosts in total control.

Callum Fowler fired home first, before Billy Phillips extended the lead a minute later.

Three minutes later and a shellshocked Bees fell further behind when Smith fired home his second of the game.

Bees kept pushing forward and set up a grandstand finish with a quick double-salvo of their own.

Ryan Watt stabbed home a rebound, before Radek Hubacek scored with a long range effort with 39 seconds remaining on the clock.

Bees called a timeout and removed Tom Annetts in the goal, but their pressure didn’t pay off and Smith had the simple task of firing into an empty net to end the resurgent Bees’ comeback.

Smital’s side have a double header at home this weekend, welcoming Sheffield Steeldogs on Saturday (6pm) and Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday (6pm) in back-to-back EPIHL fixtures.