Neil secures a double winning weekend for Phoenix

Manchester Phoenix 4-3 Swindon Wildcats

Manchester Phoenix secured two wins from their first weekend in the English PREMIER League on Sunday after British defenceman James Neil scored the game winning goal late on against a strong Swindon team that led three times in the match.

The match was a close affair with neither team really taking control of the game until the third period where the Phoenix experience paid dividends as after clawing their way back into the game three times, James Neil finally beat Geoff Woolhouse in the Swindon net with little over three minutes remaining.

The Wildcats showed their resilience in the first period however and they shaded the opening 20 minutes, deservedly taking the lead through Matt Foord on the powerplay as Jaakko Hagelberg was penalized for boarding.

In the second period, the Phoenix increased their work rate and finally found the net in the 27th minute through Jaakko Hagelberg after good work from Ed Courtenay. However, just over a minute later Swindon restored their lead with a strike from Joe Baird. The Phoenix came forward searching for a second equalizer and found it, courtesy of new arrival Ed Courtenay, scoring his fifth goal of the weekend just before the half hour mark. Swindon’s Jozef Kohut and Manchester’s Andre Mattsson then traded goals to send both teams into the final period tied at 3-3.

The final period was a stage set for a hero, and with 56.46 on the clock, teenager James Neil fired a perfect wrist shot that sent the Phoenix fans home happy and the team claimed a valuable two points against a resilient Swindon team.

Player coach Tony Hand commented, “I give the guys a lot of credit tonight for battling back. I thought we dominated the game, but Swindon made it difficult for us as they were well organised and well coached in their approach to the game.”

“We’ve had two tough games and got a great start to the campaign with maximum points, so I have to be pleased. Overall, I’m pleased with the effort we got from the players this weekend and another week of training and getting used to each other will set us up for next weekends games away to Sheffield and at home to Milton Keynes.”

On the Saturday night, the Manchester Phoenix came away from a long bus trip to Basingstoke with two points as they ran out 7-4 winners with debutant Ed Courtenay grabbing an impressive four goals.

EPL Results:

Saturday

Swindon Wildcats 6-1 Romford Raiders
Slough Jets 9-0 Bracknell Bee’s
Milton Keynes Lightning 3-2 Guildford Flames
Sheffield Scimitars 4-2 Peterborough Phantoms

Sunday

Romford Raiders 3-5 Sheffield Scimitars
Peterborough Phantoms 4-6 Slough Jets
Guildford Flames 2-3 Basingstoke Bison
Bracknell Bee’s 2-5 Milton Keynes Lightning

Elite League

Saturday

Hull Stingrays 2-9 Edinburgh Capitals
Cardiff Devils 6-5 Sheffield Steelers (AOT)
Nottingham Panthers 4-3 Newcastle Vipers
Belfast Giants 4-5 Coventry Blaze

Sunday

Newcastle Vipers 2-0 Belfast Giants
Sheffield Steelers 6-3 Cardiff Devils
Edinburgh Capitals 3-4 Nottingham Panthers (AOT)
Coventry Blaze 4-2 Hull Stingrays (Challenge Cup)