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Flames on top thanks to Clarke treble

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Guildford Flames 6 – 3 Manchester Phoenix

Manchester Phoenix travelled south on Saturday for a double-header road trip with Guildford the first destination, before moving onto Bracknell for Sunday’s game, and ran into a red-hot Gary Clarke as the Flames forward helped himself to a hat-trick.

Ryan Johnson was missing from the line-up due to his ankle injury, but Phoenix welcomed back Andre Payette following his two-game suspension. Phoenix wanted to avenge their 9-2 loss in the Spectrum of two weeks ago and with an excellent following of supporters boosting the atmosphere, the team went about their task in good heart. The opening twenty minutes was very even as the shots on goal count would indicate, just nine on the visitors with eight on the Flames. Phoenix opened the scoring in the 12th minute, Adam Walker on the mark on assists from Tony Hand and captain Luke Boothroyd. The tight nature of the session saw Guildford draw level three minutes later, Saul the scorer and the teams were tied at the first break.

The second period continued much the same as the first, a tight affair with not too many scoring opportunities after Phoenix had a goal washed out as the referee adjudged the Flames goalframe to have been dislodged from its moorings. The two sides appeared evenly match, but Guildford gradually began to got on top and snapped the tied score with two goals in quick succession. First Duggan got away to take an assist from Saul to fire them in front in the 36th minute and 90 seconds later, Gary Clarke made it 3-1 to the home side assisted by Masa and Smital to give the Flames a two-goal cushion at the second interval.

Guildford stretched the lead to 4-1 just over three minutes into the third period as the Phoenix failed to clear the defensive zone and Clarke bagged his second goal of the game assisted by Liddiard and Potts. Needing to chase the game, Phoenix were liable to be caught on the break and just inside the final ten minutes, Clarke completed his hat-trick thanks to a feed from Smital. Phoenix hit back in the 53rd minute and it was recent signing Stephen Wallace continuing his good start by notching his 5th goal in four games latching onto a pass from Boothroyd to keep his team in the hunt. The travelling support were back on the feet two minutes later as defenceman Andre Mattsson blasted a superb shot to make it 5-3 with a little under five minutes to play. Guildford rounded off the scoring in the final minute as a quick break saw Smital add their sixth marker.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand reflected on the result saying, “I think we were a little unlucky tonight, we had our fair share of the game and created chances, but weren’t clinical enough in front of goal. On the flip side, Guildford took their chances and that was the major difference. They have good speed and good depth in their line-up, and they too were key factors in the outcome tonight.”