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Phoenix Looking for Bouncebackability this Weekend

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J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix are looking to bounce back this weekend with points from two tough games.

They make the trip to the Hive to face the Bracknell Bees in an English Premier League game. This match also doubles up as their last EPL Cup qualifying match. Phoenix have already made it to the semi finals and are waiting for other results to come in to see who they will meet in the two-legged penultimate round.

Bracknell are having an up and down season but are very capable of getting a result against any team in the league. They are currently lying in sixth place in the league, not far off the top teams. Ones to watch:  Veteran pair of forwards Martin Masa and Lukas Smital are still in among the points for Bracknell with 63 between them so far this season. Add Shaun Thompson’s 30 points and they have a potent first line. The physical side of things is normally provided by James Galazzi and the agitating by Scott Spearing. In net, Coach Cox is rotating his two goalies with Carl Ambler and Tom Annetts sharing the duties.

On Sunday Phoenix entertain Milton Keynes Lightning with the usual 1730hrs face off.

Manchester have the edge over Lightning in the series at the moment but they have run into some good form and the game is likely to be the usual exciting end to end game we have become used to against them. Ones to watch: Leigh Jamieson is again proving his worth up front with 14 goals so far this season and Blaz Emersic has chipped in with 10 but their emerging star appears to be new import forward Kamil Tvrdek. The Czech was brought in to cover for the injured Adam Calder and has hit 6 goals in 8 games so far. Lightning have added a bit of physical play to their game plan this season and it is provided by Chris Wiggins with the evergreen Nicky Chinn in the background if required. As always, Grant McPherson has the agitator role in Nick Poole’s side.

Coach Hand had this to say about the upcoming weekend: “We have had a few disappointing results of late but I cannot fault the team for their efforts. We are playing well but not getting the rub of the green at the moment. We will just plug on, work hard in practice and the results will come. It is only November and we still have 30 plus games to play so there is still plenty to play for. We are struggling with a couple of injuries and once they work their way out of the system we will be ok.”

Captain Luke Boothroyd commented: “There are no easy games in this league and Bracknell is always a tough place to pick up points. Then, on Sunday, Milton Keynes will provide tough opposition but we have been playing well against them and we are looking to keep the points at the Dome.”

Right, it is cold outside but slightly warmer in the Dome. No excuses. Take a break from Christmas shopping and get down to Altrincham and cheer on Manchester’s fastest and most exciting team, Manchester Phoenix. Your support really makes a difference.