Phoenix snuff out Flames

Manchester Phoenix 5-1 Guildford Flames

A double strike from player coach Tony Hand and a first goal for defenceman Ryan Johnson helped Manchester Phoenix dispatch the Guildford Flames on Saturday night, despite being five first team players down.

Phoenix, still without injured starting netminder Steve Fone, were also without the services of Iain Bowie, Robert Lachowicz, James Neil and Joe Graham who left on Friday to play for the Great Britian under 20’s team in Hungary.

Tony Hand filled the gaps with five players from the English National League Max Drakeley, Andy McKinney, John Murray, Jake Nurse and netminder Declyn Ryan making their debuts and they more than held their own in the final minutes.

Phoenix got off to the perfect start with Jaakko Hagelberg netting with a blast from the slot which Flames netminder Mark Lee found to hot to handle. The Flames equalized through Martin Masa in the 12th minute before Phoenix took control with two quick goals. Adam Walker fired a perfect wrist-shot into the top corner of the net, which was followed by a lucky goal for coach Hand as his pass across the front of the net deflected off Flames player coach Paul Dixon into the net.

Phoenix never looked back, early in the second period, Ryan Johnson added a fourth goal, his first for the club, before Hand added his second of the night to see Phoenix extend their lead to 5-1. The final period saw the Phoenix ease off the pressure as the Flames were a well beaten side and both netminders, Lee and Adam Summerfield in the home net prevented any further changes to the scoreboard.

Hand commented after the match, “We knew we’d have to be focussed against a good Guildford side and tonight was arguably as good as we’ve played all season. I thought we dominated the game and with some better finishing, could have won by a bigger margin.”