Happy Sunday as Hamer nets four in Barons thrashing

Wednesday, 21st January 2009

Solihull Barons 2 - 13 Manchester Phoenix ENL

Making the trip down the M6, the Phoenix ENL team knew that this was a make or break game as far as the challenge for the league title was concerned. After the two games against the Barons at Altrincham a close, hard-fought game was anticipated. Nobody though was prepared for was the comprehensiveness of the win: Solihull were outplayed in every aspect of the game.

From the moment the puck was dropped the Phoenix passing clicked into place and they carried the game to Solihull. After just three minutes, Brian Worrall ripped a shot from the point under Stephen Doyle in the Barons' net to get the scoreboard moving. Two power-play goals followed, both scored by fierce distance shots, first by Jake Nurse and the second by Andy Ritchie to give the visitors a great start. Sandwiched between these though Solihull nipped their first of the evening, Martin Misak scoring for the home side. At the first hooter, Manchester left the ice rightly pleased to be leading by three goals to one, but anticipating a significant fight-back by Solihull.

The expected fight-back never materialised. Phoenix rolled the three lines and the goals kept coming. Barely a minute into the period Sean Day, helped by John Murray and Jake Nurse, made it 4-1. Phil Hamer then came up with a natural hat-trick, his first in the 24th minute and a brace in the 30th to make it a 7-1 margin. The seventh Phoenix marker saw Barons withdraw netminder Doyle to be replaced by Dave Roxburgh, but it didn't stop the scoring. Just over a minute later Robyn Crebbin hopped off the bench and powered a shot from the left-wing point. Jamie Rogerson added a power-play goal in the 33rd minute and the second period ended with John Murray adding a deft touch to finish move involving Hamer and Crebbin.

The third period was largely a formality as the Phoenix were already home and dry, yet they managed to add three further markers. A solo effort power-play marker from Tom King in the 44th minute, King again in the 54th quickly followed by Hamer notching his fourth of the game. Tom McDonald was having a solid time in the Phoenix net frustrating any breakaways generated by the Barons until the 58th minute when the Phoenix relaxed a little and Neil Adams wristed into the net from Erik Bakalar. The only incident of note to follow was with 10 seconds left in the game and the Phoenix leading 13-2 when Solihull's Luke Thomas tried to bait Jake Nurse into fisticuffs. Quite rightly, Jake saw no advantage for anyone in the exchange and resisted the challenge. Thomas was ejected from what little remained of the game.

Phoenix coach, Mark Hobson, said that he was proud of the way the team had played all evening. "The guys were awesome this tonight. They played their skill game and dominated the match against a quality team vying for the league title. We didn't get engaged in any skirmishes that could have given us penalty problems. Teams will see this result and it will cause some sharp intakes of breath around the league. The team scored 27 goals and conceded just three over the weekend. Phil Hamer had 8+2 in the two games and now has a grin second only to my own."

Man of the match for Phoenix: Jake Nurse

Period Scores: 1 3, 0-7, 1-3

Shots on Goal: (Shots on Phoenix first) Total: 26-30

Phoenix Stats:

Phil Hamer 4+1, Tom King 2+3, John Murray 1+3, Robyn Crebbin 1+2, Sean Day 1+2, Brian Worrall 1+2, Pete Traynor 0+3, Jake Nurse 1+1, Andy Ritchie 1+1, Jamie Rogerson 1+1, Ben Wood 0+1, James Wood 0+1.

Nets: Tom McDonald 30/2 (93.33%)

Happy Sunday as Hamer nets four in Barons thrashing

Phoenix Stats:

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