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.”