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Cup win for Phoenix

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Manchester Phoenix 6 - Billingham Stars 2

Phoenix scorers: Shaun Thompson x 2, Adam Walker x 2, Bobby Chamberlain and Jack Watkins.

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron”, Manchester Phoenix, sidestepped an awkward hurdle with a confident win against NIHL side Billingham Stars in the Challenge Cup.

To meet the criteria for games against NIHL sides, 2 imports (Frantisek Bakrlik and Johan Burlin), and player coach Tony Hand sat out the game along with injured forwards James Archer and Jacob Corson Heron. 4 under-18 players, James Soens, Jack Dillon, Craig Pollitt and Harry George Greaves stepped up to fill in the gaps.

Phoenix started strongly and immediately camped in the Billingham zone, firing a couple of shots on James Flavell in the Stars’ net. With just 50 seconds on the clock the home side took the lead. Good work by Adam Walker and Michal Psurny led to Bobby Chamberlain firing the puck into the net for the first goal of the evening. If Phoenix thought they were going to get things all their own way, they received a reality check on 3.31 when Callum Davies beat Declan Ryan at his post to hit the equaliser, much to the delight of the noisy travelling band of Stars fans. Michael Elder was awarded an assist on the goal. 

The pressure on the Billingham defence was immediately restored and Flavell brought off two great saves before Phoenix re-took the lead on 11.22. Robin Kovar took the puck from Bobby Chamberlain and after some nifty stick work found Shaun Thompson in space in front of the net, the latter rifling the puck home for 2-1. The same player found himself all alone at the back post on 13.15 to score his second and Phoenix’s third. Billingham were billed as a team that never gives up and that was proven on 16.19 when they again pulled a goal back through ex Steeldog player Chris Sykes with assists going to Michael Bowman and Paul Windridge.The period ended with Phoenix, as expected, dominating the game but certainly not on the home straight against their visitors.

Phoenix put the game to bed with two goals in seven minutes in the second period. The first came from the hard-working Jack Watkins, assisted by Adam Walker and Michal Psurny on 23.23 and the second by Adam Walker 4 minutes later with assists going to Michal Psurny and James Neil. Phoenix ended the period with a 6-2 lead thanks to a second Adam Walker goal on 34.11 having seemingly broken Stars’ resistance.

The home side took their foot off the gas a bit in the third and gave some ice time to the junior players who had stepped up to play for their seniors. Billingham were not for giving up though and certainly had their moments in the period without being able to penetrate the Phoenix defence. Probably the biggest cheer of the night came on 57.29 when, after a time out, coach Hand sent on youngster Harry George Greaves for a stint between the pipes. He may have had only two saves to make in his short debut but both were handled excellently. End of the game and a 6-2 victory over a Billingham side that came to play hockey and certainly did not let down their raucous fans up in block 17.

Man of the Match awards went to Bobby Chamberlain for Phoenix and James Flavell for the Stars after a superb performance in their net.

Coach Hand spoke to Phoenix TV after the game and commented:

“We won the game comfortably but these matches are never easy. Billingham played well and gave us a few problems. I was glad to get the young kids on for some ice time as they are the future of the club. I am getting far too old for this and it is time for the younger lads in the squad and the club to step up.”