Manchester Phoenix Under 19s at Blackburn

Wednesday, 28th February 2007

Saturday February 24th, 2007.

Blackburn Ice Hawks 3 - 4 Manchester Phoenix

Period Scores: 0-1/1-1/2-2

SOG: 36-34 (11-12/9-13/16-9)

PIMs: 22-77

Manchester Scorers: John Murray 3+0; Danny Berry 1+0; James Pirie 0+2; Hannah Beaumont 0+1

With a handful of key players on suspension the Phoenix Under-19s weren't quite at full strength, but they should have won by a more convincing score line. It was a case of not playing their own game and at their own level and instead, allowing themselves to think this game would be easier than they thought.

The opening period saw the Phoenix dominate the game with plenty of possession, but not the quality chances to go with it. The play lacked real effort and it showed with the lack of goals until 9:10, with some good work around the back of the net by James Pirie he found the stick of John Murray to tuck the puck under the goalie and break the deadlock. There had been few penalties up to then but as the period wore and with the Phoenix players not firing on all cylinders they gave away some cheap penalties to give Blackburn some powerplay opportunities which they managed to kill and the first period finished 1-0 to Phoenix.

There were some stern words in the dressing regarding lack of good passing and positioning and effort. This gave the Phoenix a few moments of good hockey and just three minutes into the second period stretched the lead to 2-0. John Murray set up a chance for Hannah Beaumont but she missed the target only to regain the puck and set up John who finished in fine style at 23:39. A 2-0 lead gave Phoenix a bit of breathing space and the next goal would be an important one for both sides.

The intensity shown by the Phoenix at the beginning of the session was slowly dying away and they would pay for it at 35:24 when Blackburn made the most of some sloppy defending and get themselves back in the game. Late in the period at 36:29 Danny Berry found himself fending off Blackburn's Daniel Frost who had taken exception to one of Danny's checks, a few punches were thrown and both players were duly despatched to cool their tempers in the sin-bin. That was the last of any real action and the period ended with all to play for at 2-1 to Phoenix.

More words of wisdom were needed in the dressing room to inspire the team to finish off the game early on in the third period which they did when John Murray got his hat trick goal on a break away at 45:11 to restore the two-goal lead.

Almost immediately, Tom Wilson found himself being harassed by Blackburn player Kurtis Hall who had no other desire than to fight. Tom wanted none of it, but still found himself in the bin with a 2+2+10 and the Phoenix were shorthanded. However, they turned the man shortage on its head as James Pirie gave Danny Berry the chance to blast the puck past the Blackburn goalie at 47:15 and give the Phoenix a 4-1 lead. Blackburn though were still on the powerplay and got the break they needed when the Phoenix defence failed to clear the puck from around the crease and a Hawk tapped home at 47:59.

With the Phoenix playing shorthanded it was backs to the wall but they were still creating a few chances and when Josh Brownbill had a breakaway they had the chance to finish the game. A somewhat dubious offside call saw the referee take the face-off into the Phoenix zone and Blackburn took advantage of the Phoenix not concentrating on the game and they cut the deficit to just one goal 55:02. Some very nervous minutes ticked by but the Phoenix held their nerve and were relieved to hear the final buzzer.

A 4-3 win for the Under-19's, but they know they didn't play well and can play much better. Man of the Match went to James Pirie.

Manchester Phoenix Under 19s at Blackburn

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