Phoenix prevail in overtime against Bison

Manchester Phoenix 6-5 Basingstoke Bison

An under the weather Manchester Phoenix needed an overtime period to beat the Basingstoke Bison at the Altrincham Ice Dome on Sunday night after trailing by two goals no fewer than three times in the match.

With a cold bug currently amongst the Phoenix locker-room, it took an Andre Mattsson deflected shot by Tony Hand shot in the 63rd minute to seal a hard-earned two points from a Bison side that looked to have wrapped up the points on several occasions throughout the match.

“By rights there are four or five us who should have stayed in bed tonight, but we all showed up and we got the job done.”, commented Hand after his sides eighth win in ten games.

“Considering how we felt, I thought we got a tremendous effort, especially after Basingstoke scored late and we had to fight back again to force overtime. Once again, I thought it was great entertainment and the Bison more than played their part”

The Phoenix were two goals down at the first intermission after two strikes from Andy Hemmings had put the visitors in front followed by a late first period goal from Sam Zajak. Adam Walker found the lone goal for the Phoenix in the 15th minute.

Determind to reduce the arrears, the second period saw Phoenix fly out of the blocks, Adam Walker scoring his second of the night in the 24th minute immediately cutting the deficit to one. The sides then traded goals as Joe Ciccarello found the net for the Bison whilst Tony Hand reduced the deficit once more in the 28th minute.

The Phoenix levelled the scores in the 51st minute as Ed Courtenay jammed the puck home from close in, before the Bison came forward again and took the lead in the 56th minute through Ciccarello, seemingly sealing the victory with little over four minutes remaining. As the Phoenix came in search of another equalizer, the Bison were called on two penalties leaving the home-side a golden opportunity to level the tie with a 5 on 3 powerplay and they duly netted in the 58th minute, the on-form Iain Bowie scrabbling the puck home to send the game into overtime, where Andre Mattsson’s deflection was enough to beat Bison netminder Tom Annetts.

“The level of competition in this league is something exceptional, so it is even more important we all shake off these colds and get ready for next weekend as quickly as we can.” Added Hand

Phoenix are next in action away at Bracknell on Saturday before returning home to the Ice Dome on Sunday to take on Slough Jets, face-off at 5.30pm