Phoenix fend off Bees; Record first win in 4

Manchester Phoenix 5-3 Bracknell Bees

After losing their third consecutive game on Saturday, Manchester Phoenix bounced back with a hard fought 5-3 against Bracknell on Sunday.

Phoenix lost 4-2 away at Swindon Wildcats continuing their up and down start to the new English Premier League season which has been hampered by early injuries.

But Tony Hand’s side gained an important two points on Sunday, fending off a Bracknell fight-back whilst restoring some confidence after only picking up two points from their previous three games.

Hand said after the win, “We needed that. We have been plagued by injuries in recent weeks, and our confidence has taken a knock.”

“It was a hard-fought win, but we knew it would be. Hopefully this can kick-start our season and we can build on it next week.”

Juraj Faith gave the home side the lead with their first shot of the game in the 2nd minute whilst Stephen Wallace and Slava Koulikov also found the Bracknell net before the first break with Shaun Thompson replying for the visitors.

Faith completed his brace early in the second period before a penalty against Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd sparked a Bracknell fight back. First Peter Jasik netted on the powerplay before Lukas Smital reduced the deficit further.

But in the final period centre Tom Duggan neatly finished off a move with Ciaran Long and restored Phoenix’s two goal lead to seal the points.

Phoenix shot down by Jets in OT

Manchester Phoenix 3-4 Slough Jets (After Overtime)

Reigning league champions Manchester Phoenix fell to their first home defeat of the season on Sunday when Slough forward Dan Davies netted the game winner in overtime.

Phoenix, without the injured James Archer and Josh Ward, looked the better side after ten minutes, with James Neil scoring on a delayed penalty call and Juraj Faith doubling their lead in the 12th minute.

But Slough hit back with two goals in a minute before the first break and from that point forward always looked the better side, Darius Pliskauskas netting his first of the night followed quickly by Ryan Watt.

The Slough defence kept the Phoenix forwards at bay as the home side struggled to create clear cut chances, and when did find a way through, Jets netminder Gregg Rockman was in the way.

The visitors deservedly took the lead in the 44th minute through Pliskauskas but Phoenix equalized whilst killing off a penalty of their own, Martin Cingel and Slava Koulikov combining to tie the game at 3-3.

But Tony Hand’s men ran into late penalty trouble and with Faith in the penalty box going into overtime, Davies scored the game winner to seal the extra point.

Hand said after the game, “Sometimes you just don’t get the bounces. We out shot the Jets and hit the pipes a few times, but it just wasn’t our night.”

Fone Blanks Phantoms

Manchester Phoenix 5-0 Peterborough Phantoms

Manchester Phoenix netminder Steve Fone continued his impressive start to the new season with a shut out performance against Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday night.

Peterborough, who lost both their opening fixtures last weekend, battled hard for forty minutes on Saturday with a short bench, but Phoenix wore them down and hit three goals in the final period to seal the win.

Phoenix broke a scoreless tie in the 23rd minute when Martin Cingel found the net before Ladislav Harabin doubled their lead in the 34th minute with a slapshot that squeezed through Phantoms netminder Stephen Wall.

At the opposite end, Fone sparkled when Phoenix hit penalty trouble late in the second period, keeping the visitors off the scoreboard with some smart saves as the Phantoms looked to capitalize on the powerplay.

But after Phantoms lost key player Jeff Glowa to a game penalty and Rick Skene to injury after blocking a Jaroslav Spelda shot, their resistance was broken and the visitors, with only two lines of players, were running on empty.

Juraj Faith raced in on goal twice to score back to back breakaway goals, one shorthanded, and Spelda found the net in the final minute to seal the points.

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Cingel & Fone lead Phoenix past Cats

Manchester Phoenix 3-2 Swindon Wildcats

Slovakian sniper Martin Cingel scored twice in the second period and netminder Steve Fone held firm late on to lead Manchester Phoenix to a 3-2 win on Sunday.

Cingel, who scored twice last weekend in a 5-4 win over Basingstoke, continued his hot start to the new season by scoring twice in the second period to help Phoenix beat a stubborn Wildcats side.

Swindon suffocated the Phoenix offence for the majority of the game, and when the home side did get a chance, Wildcats netminder Thomas Murdy was in the way most of the night.

Phoenix scored three times in the second period through Cingel and defenceman Jaroslav Spelda and appeared to have unlocked the Wildcats game-plan, but a much improved Swindon side came back strong with Lee Richardson and Jarislav Cesky scoring either side of the break to set up a tense finish.

But man of the match Fone prevented Swindon from tying the game with a string of fine saves in the Manchester net, allowing Phoenix to bounce back from a 5-2 defeat in Milton Keynes the night before.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand said: “We needed that win. It was important to get straight back to winning ways after the defeat at Milton Keynes on Saturday.

“Swindon are a tricky side to break down, but we knew that if we were patient and stuck to our game, the chances would come.”