Phoenix double up Tigers

Manchester Phoenix 4-2 Telford Tigers

Forward Stephen Wallace broke a 2-2 tie early in the final period and Juraj Faith added an empty net goal to help lead Manchester Phoenix past Telford on Saturday.

Phoenix, still hopeful of catching league leaders Guildford, beat the Tigers 4-3 away on Sunday as well for a maximum points weekend.

On Saturday, Tom Duggan rang a shot off the cross bar and then hit the post before player coach Tony Hand finally opened the scoring in the 13th minute to give Phoenix the lead at the first interval.

But Telford drew level early in the second period through Josh Henry before
Ciaran Long restored the home sides lead once more in the 36th minute.

Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd’s bad pass in his own zone gifted the Tigers an equalizer through Scott McKenzie which sent the sides into the second break all square.

Wallace scored the game winner in the 44th minute as the puck slid under a clawing Tigers netminder Declan Ryan before Faith added an empty net goal with a second left on the clock.

Phoenix now lie six points behind leaders Guildford with six games left whilst they have a four point cushion over third placed Sheffield.

Hand said after the game: “All credit to Telford they worked hard all night and made things difficult for us. I thought we lost a very soft goal to make it 2-2 but we took control in the third to take the points.”

Hand returns to boost Phoenix past Cats

Manchester Phoenix 6-5 Swindon Wildcats (After Overtime)

Player coach Tony Hand returned to line up on Sunday night and helped propel Manchester Phoenix past Swindon in overtime.

Hand had been out with an ankle injury since November but lead a Phoenix third period comeback with three assists after his side trailed 5-3 at the second break.

Phoenix, who went down 6-3 in Swindon the previous night, went behind after only 20 seconds on Sunday when Aaron Nell ripped a shot past Manchester netminder Steve Fone.

But goals from Tom Duggan and James Archer put Phoenix in front at the first break before a disastrous middle period put the home side in a hole.

Swindon struck four times through Nell (2), Michal Pinc and Lee Richardson whilst the only response from the home side came from Stephen Wallace leaving Phoenix with everything to do in the third period.

Phoenix were level within five minutes of the restart as Hand provided back to back assists on two goals from Jaroslav Spelda and the teams went to overtime where Phoenix captain Luke Boothroyd scored with a speculative shot from the half way line to secure the extra point.

Hand said after the game: “We were off the pace this weekend and we were punished. We needed a big slice of luck to take the points from this game and we got it, but we can’t rely on that.

“We’ll regroup ready for our double header against Telford next weekend.”

Archer fires last minute winner to sink Bees

Manchester Phoenix 3-2 Bracknell Bees

James Archer netted a dramatic late goal on Sunday night to lead Manchester Phoenix past Bracknell after the visitors tied the game late.

Bracknell equalized with a minute and a half remaining in the third period and the game looked to be going to overtime before Archer hit the winner on the power-play with 18 seconds left.

Phoenix, who beat Bracknell 5-3 away on Saturday, went behind to a Peter Jasik strike against the run of play but Ladislav Harabin quickly brought the home side level with a power-play goal minutes later.

Archer gave Phoenix the lead in the 25th minute with another power-play goal before Bracknell’s style of the play brought tempers to boiling point and Phoenix’s Ryan Johnson was given a match penalty for roughing after an altercation with the visitors Scott Spearing.

Martin Masa brought the sides level with little over a minute remaining after a rough, hard hitting third period where the visitors looked to have carved out an away point.

But a late power-play opportunity for Phoenix resulted in Archer hitting the winner with seconds on the clock securing a maximum points weekend for Manchester.

Player coach Tony Hand said: “That was an ugly win, but we’ll take the points however they come.

“We knew the Bees would come at us hard, but we were determined to stick to our style of play and we were confident the chances would come.”

Phoenix all square with Flames; beat Lightning

Manchester Phoenix 2-2 Guildford Flames (Cup Semi Final 1st Leg)
Manchester Phoenix 5-2 Milton Keynes Lightning

Ciaran Long ensured Manchester Phoenix go into the EPL cup semi-final second leg against Guildford all square with a vital equaliser on Saturday.

Phoenix, who were in danger of going behind to league leaders Guildford Flames after their home leg, came from behind twice to give themselves a fighting chance in the second game on Wednesday night.

The Flames took the lead late in the second period through Josef Kohut after the Phoenix defence turned the puck over but James Archer drew the home side level early in the final period.

David Longstaff gave the visitors the lead once more in the 53rd minute, but Phoenix fought back and Long finished off a slick move from Phoenix with Luke Boothroyd and Tom Duggan assisting to leave the sides all square for the second leg.

Meanwhile on Sunday, Phoenix returned to league action with a convincing 5-2 win over Milton Keynes Lightning.

Three goals in the first nine minutes set Tony Hand’s side on their way and they never looked back.

Long scored his second of the weekend after two minutes with an easy tap in before Juraj Faith bagged a power-play goal. Tom Duggan scored Phoenix’s third and the Lightning were forced to take an early time out to right the ship.

Ladislav Harabin grabbed Phoenix’s fourth early in the second before the Lightning staged a brief fight back with goals from Grant McPherson and Tuomas Tikkanen but Martin Cingel added a late empty net goal to seal the win.

Phoenix rout Tigers

Manchester Phoenix 9-1 Telford Tigers

Josh Ward scored his first ever goal for Manchester Phoenix and earned the man of the match award as Phoenix ran riot against bottom of the league Telford.

Phoenix, who have now won 13 of the last 16 games, scored 3 goals in each period to cruise to victory on Saturday night.

Goals from Slava Koulikov, Ladislav Harabin and Martin Cingel got the home side going in the first period, whilst Ryan Johnson and a Tom Duggan double saw Phoenix lead 6-0 at the second break.

Ward netted his first of the season in the 46th minute before setting up Ciaran Long for Phoenix’s eighth of the night and Juraj Faith rounded out the scoring for the home side with a solo goal.

But to Telford’s credit, they pressed forward and scored a late consolation through Tomas Janak as he beat back up netminder Jorge El-Hage who saw some rare ice time in the third period.

Player coach Tony Hand said: “I am very pleased with the performance. We showed how well we can play, and how well we understand each other.

“Telford are a hard team to play against, and you need a strong start to set the tone. We did that, and reaped the reward.”

Phoenix now look forward to a home double header this weekend in Altrincham with a cup semi final clash against Guildford Flames on Saturday and a visit from Milton Keynes on Sunday.

Manchester Phoenix promo trailer

Archer fires Phoenix past Cats

Manchester Phoenix 6-3 Swindon Wildcats

James Archer fired in a natural hat-trick on Sunday night to help Manchester Phoenix come from behind to beat Swindon.

Archer struck three straight goals in the second period after Ladislav Harabin netted a power-play goal to put Phoenix 4-1 up after going a goal down in the opening period.

Swindon cut the deficit to two goals when Aaron Nell scored in the 32nd minute but Ciaran Long restored the home sides three goal cushion going into the third period.

Both teams traded goals in the last twenty minutes with Swindon’s Paul Swindlehurst blasting a slap shot past Steve Fone in the Manchester net whilst Phoenix’s Stephen Wallace added a late power-play goal.

The win completed a four point weekend for Phoenix after they beat Milton Keynes Lightning 3-1 on Saturday.

Goals from Juraj Faith and Wallace (2) ensured Tony Hand’s side stay in second place in the English Premier League table, four points behind leaders Guildford.

Hand said: “That was an excellent win against a very hard-working team. We were dominating, but the chances weren’t going in until the second period, but when we found our rhythm we took charge.

“I’m delighted for James. He works hard every shift and doesn’t always get the praise he deserves, but it was great to see him grab a hat trick and take the plaudits in front of our own fans.”