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Phoenix sledge team earn first league victory

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Saturday July 20th saw the final round of Division 1 Sledge Hockey games take place, with Peterborough and Kingston battling for the title and the Phoenix looking to play spoiler, and pick up their first ever league victory, it was guaranteed to be a good tournament!

First game on the cards saw the home side Peterborough Phantoms take on the Manchester Phoenix. With the last game between the sides ending in a very close 3-2 Phantoms victory, Peterborough knew they had to attack right away to claim victory and keep their title ambitions on track. And they did just that, starting the game at a fast pace and putting Phoenix on the defensive! Some great work by a ever improving defence corp. of Graham Wilson, Steve Bradley and Scott Booth and Netminder Steve Midghall, saw the Phantoms frustrated... however it seemed only a matter of time until the deadlock was broken…and Peterborough where the team to do it. Their experience showed and they took a 5-0 victory in their first game, and Phoenix could take some pride out of the effort hey applied, especially in the last minute and a half hen they penned Peterborough in their zone.

Game 2 followed shortly and Phoenix were back in action against the reigning champions, the Kingston Kestrels! Phoenix knew this was their last chance to grab that elusive victory, but seemed a little off the pace... so Captain Karl Nicholson called a time out to rally the troops! What ever was said seemed to do the trick as Phoenix dominated the rest of the game, taking it 6-2! With GB Coach Andrew Linton looking on, Rob Allen & Anthony Booth both bagged 2 goals to remind him that they wants to be in the GB squad to go to Turin to help qualify for Sochi 2014! A great win and great to build momentum heading into the play offs!

Game 3 saw the title decider….Peterborough vs. Kingston! Peterborough avoid defeat and they win their first ever title... and on home ice! Both teams started apprehensively... understandable with what was on the line, but Peterborough took the lead... surely it was in the bag now! Well someone forgot to tell Kingston as they replied shortly after to give them hope of keeping their crown. However Peterborough scored a few quick goals, despite an impressive performance in net from Kingstons keeper, to take it 4-2 and win their first ever title!

Congratulations to Peterborough, worthy winners of the division... and also to Kingston who fought them all the way! And we must not forget the Phoenix... a vast improvement from their debut only a few months ago in the league... all 3 teams will be lookingto go for that play off title... keep your eyes peeled on the website, the forum, ezine, Phoenix TV and also follow the team on Twitter @MP_Sledgehockey and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/manchesterphoenixsledgehockey