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Phoenix come back to grab the points

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Manchester Phoenix 4 - Basingstoke Bison 3 (after penalty shots)

Phoenix Scorers: Shaun Thompson x 2 and Robin Kovar

Penalty Shot scorers: James Archer and Adam Walker

Manchester Phoenix staged two come backs to win both points in a thrilling game at the Ice Dome on Sunday. Both teams were short benched through injury with Phoenix missing Jacob Heron, Luke Boothroyd and Jared Dickinson and Bison without Grant Rounding, Nicky Chinn and Matt Selby.

The crowd had hardly settled in their seats when Phoenix thought they had taken the lead. With their first attack, after just 18 seconds, the puck appeared to find its way into the net only for referee Brooks to wash it out after consulting the goal judge. 

The second period started well for Phoenix as they slowly took command of the game and got a goal back on 26.18 with a Robin Kovar strike, assisted by Frankie Bakrlik and Michal Psurny. Both teams played hard and Bison brought two outstanding saves from Stephen Fone on his return to action. With the period ending, Phoenix hit the equaliser with a delayed penalty goal. After Stephen Fone raced to the bench to allow the extra out-skater on the ice, Shaun Thompson scored an outstanding individual strike with just 4 seconds left on the clock. Taking a pass from Frankie Bakrlik he set off on a mazy run which ended with him deceiving Dean Skinns with some deft stick work. 2-2 after 40 minutes and all to play for in the third period.

The third period was fairly even with both sides again having chances to score and both netminders in good form to keep the puck out. With just under 10 minutes left Jack Watkins was adjudged to have kneed Vantroba and was sent to the box on a two minute minor penalty. Bison scored straight from the face off with Tomas Karpov scoring, assisted by Greener and Rand. It was looking like the game had slipped away from the home side when Declan Balmer was adjudged to have committed a boarding offence. With the referee’s hand held high, Stephen Fone raced to the bench to allow the extra skater onto the ice and Shawn Thompson scored his second of the night, assisted by Ben Wood and Michal Psurny timed at 57.31. Regulation time ended with the scores tied at 3-3 and the teams went into overtime.

Neither team could find the net in the overtime period and the match went to the dreaded penalty shoot out.

Joe Rand was first up for Bison but he was unable to beat Stephen Fone’s pads and the puck rebounded harmlessly away. James Archer took Phoenix’s penalty and easily beat Dean Skinns to put the home side a goal up. Ciaran Long then scored a cheeky penalty to bring the scores level and Frankie Bakrlik missed to send the shootout to the third round. Tomas Karpov missed and that left Adam Walker to score the winner and the extra point stayed in the Ice Dome.

A thrilling game that neither side deserved to lose and Bison will go home happy with the point. Phoenix will be pleased with the two points and a 3 point weekend.