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Torment in Telford

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Telford Tigers 4 - Manchester Phoenix 1

Manchester Phoenix scorer: Scott McKenzie

An out of sorts Manchester Phoenix fell to a 4-1 defeat against the Telford Tigers on Sunday.

The first period was dominated by Phoenix but they could not find a way past the excellent Declan Ryan in the Tigers goal. Chances galore fell to the marauding Phoenix forwards but the onion bag stayed empty after 20 minutes. Phoenix did have 2 power plays but seemed disjointed and, although having plenty of possession, the telling pass or shot never materialised.

Telford took the lead five minutes into the second period after a mistake behind the Phoenix goal allowed Bowley to score. Just over a minute later, they doubled the lead with a Burrows powerplay goal as Schnabel sat out an interference minor penalty. Phoenix again had a plethora of chances but great netminding and poor finishing kept the score at 2-0 after 40 minutes.

The story was the same in the third period with Phoenix pressing but Telford resolutely defending. They had chances of their own however and Fone had to be alert to keep the lead at 2. A major talking point emerged at 49.02 when Richard Bentham was adjudged to have dived in front of the net when at least 60% of the crowd were positive it should have been a penalty shot. Just over 2 minutes later, Telford sealed the points with a third goal, scored by Brittle. Phoenix did find the net in the 53^rd minute with a goal from ex Tiger Scott McKenzie but  it was too little too late and an empty net goal for Tigers ended the scoring at 4-1 to the home side.

Phoenix will re-group next week in preparation for a trip to Milton Keynes on Saturday and a home meeting with Swindon Wildcats.