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Swindon Wildcats 4 - Manchester Phoenix 2

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Swindon Wildcats 4 Manchester Phoenix 2

Phoenix scorers: James Neil and Richard Bentham

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix lost 2-4 to the Swindon Wildcats on Saturday evening.

Swindon kept the points at the Link Centre with the win in an entertaining end to end game that had both sets of fans on tenterhooks.

The game started and continued all night with end to end play and both netminders making good saves. Jonas Hoog had a good chance to put the home side in front after 5.54 but Fone made a good save to deny him. Shane Moore was sent to the sin bin on 9.39 on a roughing call and Phoenix took full advantage of the extra man on the power-play.

James Neill was in the right place at the right time to sweep a rebound into the net after Skinns had saved a Robert Schnabel shot. Ciaran Long was given a two minute minor penalty for slashing on 12.22 and it took the Wildcats just 6 seconds of the power-play to equalise as the giant Fojtik one timed the puck from a face off pass by Kapicka. The visitors almost went ahead five minutes later as a shot pinged off the pipework but they were not to be denied on 18.07. Once again it was a Robert Schnabel shot that did the damage with Richard Bentham getting the all important tip past Dean Skinns to put Phoenix ahead for the second time. Swindon hit back quickly once again as the in-form Michal Kapicka hit a fine rebound past Stephen Fone after the netminder made an excellent save from a Jonas Hoog shot.  That was all the scoring in the first period and a 2-2 scoreline reflected just how close the game was.

The second period saw much of the same. Both sides had good chances to take the lead but found the netminders on top of their game, keeping the teams level. Michal Psurny fell foul of referee Boardman at the half way point of the game as he was given a 2 plus 10 for a check from behind. Swindon’s Paul Swindlehurst took exception to this and the resultant handbags saw him pick up a 2 plus 2 for roughing and Psurny given an extra 2 minute roughing penalty for his contribution. The deadlock was broken four minutes later when Aaron Nell scored. Taking a pass from Hoog, he saw Fone slightly off his post and fired the puck at pace into the crease. The puck came off the back of Fone’s skate and ended up in the net for the go-ahead goal for Swindon. Chances came and went for both sides for the rest of the period but the teams went for their second cup of tea with Wildcats leading 3-2.

The third period saw a continuation of the end to end play that entertained both sets of fans, testing both netminders on a regular basis. Swindon scored the all important next goal with just over three minutes on the clock when Hoog hit a sweet rebound into a gaping net after Fone had made a good save from a Kapicka shot. Swindon then closed up the game, denying Phoenix an opportunity to get back into the match and ran out 4-2 winners.

Phoenix fans headed home, wondering what might have been if early chances had been taken but, all in all, a very entertaining game which could have gone either way.

Phoenix man of the match was awarded to Luke Boothroyd with Michal Kapicka picking up the home beers.

Manchester now turn their attention to the top of the table clash with Basingstoke at the Dome on Sunday, face off 17.30hrs.