Manchester Phoenix

Altrincham Silver Blades Ice Dome

 

Phoenix Under-18s continue fabulous start – another winning weekend!

Monday, 29th October 2007

Sat 27th: Phoenix U-18s 6 - 2 Nottingham Jaguars
Sun 28th: Bradford U-18s 2 - 13 Phoenix U-18s

Another amazing weekend for the Manchester Phoenix Under-18s squad saw them collect two more stunning victories to maintain their 100% winning start to the 2007/08 season.

Phoenix began the weekend missing a couple of regulars from the line-up and so drafted in help from the U-16 team to help out. And the gameplan worked superbly as they took a commanding 3-2 lead after the first period against the Jaguars courtesy of a 5th minute opener from Phil Hamer before a brace from Josh Healey gave them a two-goal lead at the first interval.

Phoenix rubber-stamped their credentials just 40-seconds after the restart as Tom Hammond finished a lightning fast break to make it a three-goal spread. The period continued is scrappy fashion with both sides taking too many penalties and disrupting the flow of the game.

The third period saw Phoenix again start in blistering style, this time taking just 14 seconds to extend their lead with John Murray netting on a powerplay. Phoenix settled matters in the 51st minute as Hamer grabbed his second of the game completing another fine passing move and the Jaguars claimed a late consolation second.

A Phoenix spokesperson commented on Saturday, “Once again we made our customary quick start, but let ourselves down by taking too many penalties. The players were disappointed as they know they can play a whole lot better.”

Stats:

Phil Hamer 2+3; Josh Healey 2+0; John Murray 1+0; Tom Hammond 1+0; Ryan Pike 0+3; Richard Ravey 0+1; Jack Sweet 0+1.

Adam Summerfield - 22/2.

Phoenix MVP - Shaun Dippnall

 

Sunday’s road trip to Bradford was a “top of the table” clash and everyone in the Phoenix camp was focussed on what would be the toughest game of the campaign to date. And with coach Pete Winstanley giving the squad no doubts as to what he expected of them in his first game back after injury, the visitors knew they had to perform.

The Phoenix blitzkrieg start for once didn’t produce as the Bradford defence had obviously done their own homework on how to stifle the Manchester attacks. Phoenix, icing two lines to start the game, did open the scoring though in the sixth minute, Phil Hamer continuing his fine recent form in front of goal. Midway through the period, Rick Ravey was injured and despite valiant efforts, he was to play no further part in the game. Phoenix re-adjusted their lines again and added a second marker in the 16th minute with Joe Mann roofing a shot from a tight angle. Bradford responded immediately to cut the deficit at the first interval.

Without Ravey, Phoenix decided on a ploy of ultra-quick shifts to tire the Bradford defence and the second period saw the visitors totally dominate the Yorkshire side as they rattled in six unanswered goals from six different scorers, a true team effort. Elliott Bayne and John Murray both scored unassisted markers in the first three minutes of the session and Phoenix piled on the pressure with Marc Etherington and Jake Nurse both netting in the space 23 seconds and all this before the 25-minute mark. Joe Greaves and Hamer with his second of the game put the result beyond doubt with over twenty minutes to play.

Coach Winstanley decided against letting up, demanding more and getting it in the final period. Nurse added his second and a second from Greaves saw Phoenix hit double figures. Hamer bagged his personal hat-trick marker in the 47th minute and with Phoenix forcing Bradford into desperate defensive plays, it was no great surprise that the goals continued as Tom Hammond and Bayne with his second of the game made it unlucky 13 for Bradford. The home side grabbed a late consolation second, but they had been truly worked over by a rampant Phoenix side.

A Phoenix spokesperson noted, “The team has fullfilled the targets set them for October, and new ones will be set for Christmas. The Bradford game was our best three periods of hockey played this season and the players know the reason for this was that we kept out of the penalty box. They are a great bunch of lads and we are rightfully proud of what they have achieved so far this season.”

Stats:

Phil Hamer 3+2; Jake Nurse 2+1; Elliot Bayne 2+0; Joe Greaves 2+0; John Murray 1+3; Tom Hammond 1+2; Joe Mann 1+0; Marc Etherington 1+0; Josh Healey 0+2; Rick Ravey 0+1; Steve McHugh 0+1; Jack Sweet 0+1.

Adam Summerfield - 25/2.  (Bradford netminder Osmond 64/13)

MVP - Captain Jake Nurse.

Bradford Pen mins – 64; Phoenix Pen mins – 6

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