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Phoenix stifle Tigers' roar - but only just!

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Manchester Phoenix 5 Telford Tigers 4
(After OT and pens)

Manchester Phoenix and Telford Tigers served up a breathless roller coaster classic at the Altrincham Ice Dome, which saw Phoenix complete another four-point weekend - by the skin of their teeth.

On paper, this top versus bottom EPL clash should have presented little to seriously trouble Phoenix, but Telford produced a battling, full-blooded performance that belied their lowly position, and Tigers’ superb, raucous travelling support could justifiably feel disappointed not come away with both points.

After a comfortable 7-3 away win at Bracknell on Saturday night, Phoenix were at full strength on Sunday.  A goalless first period saw Phoenix frustrated by the effectiveness of Telford’s ability to soak up pressure and break quickly. Rarely have the league leaders been closed down so effectively. Both sides missed plenty of chances, but Telford in particular were profligate in front of net when it seemed a goal was inevitable.

Adam Summerfield in the Phoenix goal and Declan Ryan between the pipes for Telford were both having excellent games, and both deservedly got Man of the Match.

Curtis Huppe finally broke the deadlock on 26 minutes, connecting with a pass from Tony Hand, but Tigers immediately equalised with a goal from Andy McKinney 40 seconds later.

Phoenix appeared to take charge of the game after Ben Morgan again put them ahead on 28 minutes followed by a goal from Marcus Kristoffersson on 30 minutes. The tie looked out of Tigers’ reach when Ladislav Harabin slotted a fourth on 38 minutes, but Tom Watkins pulled a goal back on 39 minutes.

Telford soaked up total Phoenix pressure for the first half of the final period, but the league leaders were having a frustrating night in front of goal. Meanwhile, Tigers were ready to pounce on the countless Phoenix passes that went astray, and started to exert pressure of their own.

Telford’s breakouts were looking increasingly dangerous, but even they could not have expected a sloppy powerplay mistake from Phoenix that allowed Marek Hornak to break away and coolly score Telford’s third with four minutes remaining.

Phoenix were panicky, and an all-out assault on Summerfield’s net led to a fully-deserved equaliser for Scott McKenzie with a minute of normal time remaining.

The score was 4-4 going into overtime, but with no further scoring it went to penalties.

Eyebrows were raised when Phoenix player coach Tony Hand brought on Phoenix number one net minder Steve Fone for the penalty shootout, before Stephen Wallace finally netted the winner after seven rounds. 

Tony Hand said: "That was a very satisfying win, but we were made to work damned hard for it. It was a very frustrating night for us because we would normally be putting away chances like we had tonight.

"But that should take nothing away from Telford. They played a very effective strategy against us and closed us down well. They defended well and they were dangerous on the break.

"But we worked hard and we still found the breaks and I think that is a testament to our own work ethic.

"Adam Summerfield played extremely well in net for us and he fully deserved his man of the match, but I felt Foney had more experience of the one-on-one pressure of penalties, so I called him up for the shootout and he stepped up and did the job."