Phoenix see off the Sharks

Saturday, 15th November 2014

Manchester Phoenix 10 - Solway Sharks 2

Phoenix scorers: Bobby Chamberlain x 3, Michal Psurny x 2, Johan Burlin, Jack Watkins, Ben Wood, Adam Walker and Jared Dickinson.

J Davidson sponsored, “Men of Iron”, Manchester Phoenix, completed their cup games against the NIHL teams with a comfortable win at home to Solway Sharks.

Phoenix started in typical fashion, raiding the Sharks’ defensive zone with wave after wave of attack and by the time they took the lead, the home side had already hit the pipework 3 times. Goal number one came from prolific scorer Michal Psurny, who went into tonight’s game needing just 2 more strikes to reach a century of goals for the club. This was timed at 6.33 and if the Phoenix faithful sat back expecting a glut of goals, they were to be more than a little surprised. Solway came with a stronger team than when they played Phoenix in Dumfries and with 7.47 on the clock they scored a neat equaliser through Aiden Fulton, assisted by Stephen Moore and Ross Murray. 32 seconds later Phoenix re-took the lead as Bobby Chamberlain struck his first of the night, assisted by Shaun Thompson and Michal Psurny. Back came Solway and a lapse of concentration by Phoenix let ex player Ian Bowie in to hit a second equaliser just 22 seconds later. Phoenix continued to dominate but a hard-working Sharks side had their chances and the period ended with no further scoring.

Coach Hand’s first break team talk worked its magic again as the home side came out with a determination to take control of the scoreboard. This they did with 4 unanswered goals through Johan Burlin, Jack Watkins, Ben Wood and Adam Walker to put the result beyond doubt at 6-2.

The third period probably belonged to two Phoenix forwards. Firstly to Bobby Chamberlain who scored two goals in five minutes to complete his first ever senior hat trick and to Michal Psurny who hit the magic 100 goals for the club with the final goal of the evening. Congratulations to both players from all at the club. In between those two landmarks, young Jared Dickinson continued his good form with another strike on 45.45 and the final score on the night was 10-2 to Phoenix.

This result means that Phoenix need a maximum of 2 points from their final two fixtures in the cup round robin to ensure qualification to the knockout stages.

Part two of the double header home games is tonight when Guildford Flames visit the Dome with the usual 17:30 face off.