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Peterborough Phantoms 9 - Manchester Phoenix 4

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Phoenix scorers: James Archer, Liam Chong, Robert Schnabel and Andy McKinney

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix ended a disappointing weekend with a heavy defeat against Peterborough Phantoms.

Phoenix were still without Stephen Fone, Joachim Flaten and Tony Hand, Peterborough were without Jozef Sladok and Jamie Line.

There was nothing to indicate the final scoreline after a pulsating end to end first period with the home side taking the lead after 7.25 with a Tom Norton goal assisted by Jeff Glowa and Maris Ziedins. Phoenix were well in the game at this point and James Archer equalised two minutes later assisted by Michal Psurny and Tom Duggan. Just over a minute later Liam Chong scored his first goal for Phoenix with assists awarded to Ben Wood and Richard Bentham. Peterborough equalised on 12.10 with a goal from Jeff Glowa that looked suspiciously like a kick in and the end to end hockey continued. With just under three minutes left in the period, the Peterborough defence left Robert Schnabel far too  much room on the blue line and another trade mark rocket found its way past Damian King in the Phantoms’ goal. A superb period of hockey ended with no further scoring and the visitors just shading it 3-2.

Phantoms came out strong and equalised within 42 seconds as James Ferrara scored a powerplay goal assisted by Ondrej Lauko and Tom Norton. The game turning moment came when Phoenix, on a two on one break, brought a superb save from King and the home side broke with devastating speed down the left and ex Phoenix player Joe Graham fired the puck home. Lauko made it 5-3 on the half hour mark and Phoenix were looking a bit shell shocked. A poor hit on Tom Duggan late in the period saw the Phoenix pocket dynamo helped off the ice to the locker room to be looked at by the medical team. The period ended with no further scoring with an in form Peterborough turning the game around to lead 5-3.

End to end hockey continued in the third but Peterborough were finding gaps in the tiring Phoenix line up as the visitors pushed up chasing the game. Lauko made it six for the home side after 48.04 and Jeff Glowa scored his second of the night six minutes later. Fiesty Phantoms’ forward Will Weldon took exception to a forecheck on the boards and dropped the gloves with Liam Chong. A good honest scrap ensued with Chong just shading it and both players sent to cool off for 4 minutes each. Phoenix were becoming very frustrated with some of the refereeing decisions and Robert Schnabel picked up a 10 minute misconduct penalty just before Andy McKinney scored the Phoenix fourth goal, assisted by Gordie Howe hat trick man Liam Chong and James Neil. Andrew Jazyzcik, who had replaced Jorge El-Hage after Phantoms’ sixth goal was beaten twice late on by Carlon and Ziedins to make the final score of the evening 9-4 to Peterborough.

A battle weary Phoenix side made for the bus and a snowy journey home, disappointed by a nil point weekend. The effort was always there and everybody gave their all but they came up against a tough home side who upped the pace against a short benched Phoenix.

The next Manchester Phoenix game is at the Ice Dome on Sunday 17th February against the Guildford Flames with the usual 1730hrs face off.