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Phoenix tame Tigers

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Manchester Phoenix 6 Telford Tigers 3

Manchester Phoenix maintained their eight-point lead at the top of the English Premier League with a comprehensive victory over a battling Telford side.

Tigers had run Phoenix close on Saturday night in Telford, before two late goals from Marcus Kristoffersson saw Phoenix run out 4-2 winners.

Sunday night in Altrincham saw a typically high-tempo start from both teams, with Phoenix carving out some golden opportunities, only being denied by an inspired opening ten minutes from Tigers goalie Martin Clarkson. Phoenix broke the deadlock just after the ten-minute mark, when Marcus Kristoffersson scored a short-handed goal on a Phoenix breakaway. Kristoffersson struck again on 18 minutes, this time on the power play, to give Phoenix a two-goal cushion going into the first break.

Three goals in six minutes during the second period seemed to put the result beyond doubt. Stephen Wallace pounced on 21 minutes to make it 3-0, and Greg Wood got a deserved goal on 24 minutes. Curtis Huppe bagged his first of the night on 27 minutes to make it 5-0.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand changed his goaltender on 28 minutes, replacing Steve Fone with Adam Summerfield.

Daniel Mackriel struck back for the Tigers on 31 minutes, and Jack Watkins pulled a second back for Telford two minutes later.

Phoenix nerves began to jangle slightly on 36 minutes, when Mackriel struck again to make it 5-3 and a much closer game that it had been 20 minutes previously.

Steve Fone returned to the Phoenix goal for the third period, and Marcus Kristoffersson lashed home his hat-trick goal on 44 minutes to make it 6-3.

Tigers battled ferociously to build their momentum again, but Phoenix stood firm, and despite a pulsating, frantic, end-to-end period, there were no more goals.

After a daunting schedule over the last month or so, Phoenix have retained top spot with just two defeats from the last ten games. Phoenix player coach Tony Hand was understandably delighted.

He said: “I knew we had a tough, tough period coming from the end of January. There have been a lot of high-pressure games, one after another, and it’s taken its toll. The guys are understandably tired.

“But we’re through it and we’re still top and battling on two fronts. We can have a good rest now, with no game until next Sunday at Sheffield, when we can come back refreshed and focused on the final run-in.”