News

Phoenix put up brave performance in Guildford

Tweet

Manchester Phoenix were missing three import players, and were only able to ice 11 out skaters in total, but fought hard in a 5-3 defeat at the Guildford Flames.

Despite facing a significant disadvantage, Phoenix grabbed the lead at 3:15 as Edgars Bebris set up Roman Malinik to score.  Guildford got themselves level at 12:27 thanks to a Matic Kralj goal, but he had to leave the game immediately through injury, as a tight first period ended 1-1.

Phoenix replaced Steve Fone with Denis Bell at the start of the second period, and he made a number of crucial saves to keep Phoenix in touch.  The Flames took the lead for the first time at 26:42 as Tom Duggan set up Ben Campbell, and the same pair linked up again at 32:41 to make it 3-1.  Phoenix refused to buckle however and Bebris was again the provider at 36:34 as Gareth O’Flaherty made it a one goal game.  However, Guildford got a fourth goal late on at 39:17 as Campbell completed a second period hat trick.

Guildford stretched their lead early in the third period through Jens Eriksson at 40:29, and in a well-contested but good tempered game, it took until the 52nd minute for the only penalty of the game to arrive, which went against Ben Wood.  Phoenix did manage to grab a third goal late on as Bebris completed an excellent performance by converting a James Neil pass at 59:27.

Phoenix are at home on Sunday evening against the Basingstoke Bison, with a 5pm face-off in Blackpool.