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Phoenix pound the Steeldogs

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Manchester Phoenix 8 - Sheffield Steeldogs 2

Phoenix scorers: Frantisek Bakrlik x 2, Michal Psurny, Bobby Chamberlain, Jack Watkins, Ben Wood, James Archer and Joe Graham

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron” Manchester Phoenix had an emphatic win over rivals Sheffield Steeldogs on Thursday night with a scintillating 8 goal romp.

Phoenix, determined to avenge the narrow defeat to the same opponents last week, came out very strong and camped in the Steeldogs’ zone for the whole of the first 5 minutes and deservedly took the lead on 6.43. Johan Burlin found Shaun Thompson in the left corner and his pinpoint pass to the front of the crease was controlled by Frankie Bakrlik, then swept through the five hole of Dalibor Sedlar for 1-0. 33 seconds later it was 2-0. This time Michal Psurny was in the right place at the right time to hit the net. Assists went to James Archer and Tony Hand. Phoenix’s third of the night on 9.52 was a thing of beauty. James Archer passed to Tony Hand who worked a space and sent a superb pass to Bobby Chamberlain at the back post from where he scored with aplomb. Number 4 was only 3 minutes away and Jack Watkins hit as sweet a one timer as you will ever see from a Bobby Chamberlain pass. The home side rounded off an excellent period of attractive, attacking hockey with goal number 5 on 19.43. Bobby Chamberlain and Adam Walker combined to get the puck to Ben Wood who spun on a sixpence and back handed the puck past the helpless netminder. The period ended with the large Thursday night crowd standing to applaud their team back to the locker room with a 5-0 lead.

Sheffield changed their netminder for the start of the second period with Bradley John Day replacing Dalibor Sedlar. The visitors, the form team in the league of late, pulled a goal back on 23.07 through Andrew Hirst, assisted by Lloyd Gibson. Phoenix then took advantage of the first penalty of the night, when Andre Payette went to the box on a roughing call and just 14 seconds later, on 25.15, Frankie Bakrlik hit his second of the night, assisted by Robin Kovar and James Archer. It could have been far worse for Sheffield had Michal Psurny managed to keep the puck down on the two occasions he hit the crossbar with the netminder well beaten. Dogs’ player coach tried to fire up his team when he held James Archer on the boards and attempted to get him to fight by knocking his gloves off. All he achieved was 2 minutes for holding and a 10 minute incitement call. Robin Kovar went to the box on a dubious tripping call on 30.49 and the Dogs took advantage with a Janis Ozolins powerplay goal, assisted by Lee Haywood and Lubomir Korhon. That was it for the second period and Phoenix went to the locker room with a 6-2 lead.

The third period was a quieter affair with Phoenix coasting towards the points and increased their lead on 53.34. Andre Payette went to the box on a cross checking call and James Archer scored, assisted by Tony Hand. The final game of the evening came on 54.19 when Joe Graham got on the scoresheet, assisted by Michal Psurny and James Archer.

Coach Hand said after the win: “I am really pleased with the whole team tonight. We talked about going for it right from the start and that is exactly what we did. I asked the team to step up and they all did tonight.”