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Blank weekend for Phoenix

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Manchester Phoenix 4 Sheffield Steeldogs 6

Phoenix scorers: Robin Kovar, Jack Watkins, Tony Hand and Adam Walker.

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron” Manchester Phoenix lost their second game of the weekend against a well drilled Sheffield Steeldogs side.

Everything started so well for the home side and they deservedly took the lead on 3.16.  Ben Wood played the puck out of the defensive zone to Adam Walker out on the wing. His pinppoint pass found Robin Kovar who stroked the puck home for 1-0. The lead lasted just over a minute when Lloyd Gibson found the net after good work by Craig Elliot and Ashley Calvert. 33 seconds later Sheffield had the lead with a goal by Jeff Legue. Assists went to Greg Wood and Lewis Bell.  The home crowd was in a state of shock when the Steeldogs made it 3-1 on 8.36 with Lloyd Gibson’s second of the night, assisted by Tom Squires and Ben Morgan.  Phoenix hit back 30 seconds later with a superb Jack Watkins strike. The goal was a delayed penalty goal after Jacob Corson-Heron was hit late by a Steeldogs forward. The puck broke to Jack Watkins who skated in from the left wing to place it past Dalibor Sedlar in the Steeldogs’ net. The scoring continued on 13.21 with a Jeff Legue goal assisted by Andre Payette and Greg Wood to make the score 4-2 . There was no further scoring in the period and the teams went for their first cup of tea with the visitors leading 4-2.

The second period finished scoreless but this did not tell the story of a period totally dominated by Phoenix. Not only were the Steeldogs outshot by 19-6, they found themselves unable to get the puck out of their own zone for most of the 20 minutes. Phoenix hit the post twice but they were unable to find a way to beat the outstanding Dalibor Sedlar. Phoenix also had a long 5 on 3 power play but excellent defending by the Steeldog rear guard kept their 2 goal lead intact.

Phoenix came out all guns blazing in the third, looking for the goal that would get them back into the game. They found the net after 41.32 with a Tony Hand special. He took a pass from Luke Boothroyd and found the net with a pinpoint shot. James Neil was also given an assist.

Sheffield scored a 5^th goal on 52.31 with a short hander by Jeff Legue and it looked like the points were safely on their way across the Pennines.  Phoenix, though, were in no mood to lie down and just 17 seconds later made it a one goal game once more with a fine Adam Walker shot. Assists went to Tony Hand and James Neil. Phoenix pressed hard for the equaliser and pulled netminder Declan Ryan for the extra out skater but lost an empty net goal when Lubomir Korhon dispossessed Michal Psurny and sent the puck into the empty net with just 9 seconds left to secure a 6-4 win.

Man of the Match awards went to Jeff Legue of the Steeldogs and Jacob Corson Heron for Phoenix.

Coach Tony Hand said after the game:

“I thought we played well for most of the game and dominated the second period. There are things we need to sort by next weekend, but also a few points that will give us encouragement.”