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Late surge hands Hull the points

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The Manchester Phoenix were unlucky not to take anything from a game which ended 6-3 to the Hull Pirates.

In an even first period, which Hull edged in shots 14-13, both sides created good openings but were unable to find the net.  Phoenix had a couple of goalmouth scrambles and Robin Kovar was stopped by Jordan Marr whilst Hull’s Andrej Themar and Nathan Salem were both denied from close in by Steve Fone.

The second period followed a similar pattern with Edgars Bebris going close for Phoenix but Hull began to exert more pressure as the period wore on, and got their reward at 32:29 as Ryan Watt lifted the puck over Fone.  Soon after, the visitors doubled their lead as Stanislav Lascek tipped in a Salem pass at 36:23.

Phoenix refused to roll over and two quick goals at the start of the third period tied the game.  Kovar finished off a two-on-one at 44:27 as he found the top corner before Vaclav Meidl fired under Marr at 45:37 on a breakaway.  However, a controversial late penalty gave Hull the opportunity to restore their lead, which was taken by Jason Hewitt at 52:30 as he scored from the slot.  Just forty seconds later, Dominic Osman scored from a tight angle to make it 4-2 but Phoenix responded as Kovar raced down the left wing and centred for Gareth O’Flaherty to net at 54:37.

Hull put an undeserved gloss on the scoreline with two late goals from Themar at 55:34 and Martin Ondrej at 56:45 as a short-benched Phoenix eventually ran out of steam.

Phoenix are at home next Saturday evening against the Guildford Flames, with a 5pm face-off in Blackpool.