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Sheffield Steelhawks 7 - 0 Manchester Phoenix U18
Sheffield Steelhawks 7 - 0 Manchester Phoenix U18
The Phoenix U-18s faced what is likely to be their toughest fixture of the season last Sunday against the table topping Sheffield Steelhawks. Although the Yorkshire side ultimately ran out comfortable winners, Phoenix put on a disciplined and determined display to hold Sheffield at bay for much of the game.
Missing three players to injury and icing U-16s playing their second fixture of the day, matching the Steelhawks’ goal machine was always going to be a tough task. Nevertheless, Phoenix had their fair share of possession in the opening exchanges. Phoenix ‘keeper Matt Leeming made an important save in the second minute from Sheffield’s Leigh Marrow, and Phoenix went on the powerplay moments later after a Tripping call against Steelhawks’ Callum Rawson. Two long-range shots from Jordan Bannon were comfortably turned aside by Altrincham ‘old boy’ Declan Ryan in the Sheffield net as the home side killed off the penalty. At the six-minute mark Tom Revesz forechecked his way to the best chance of the game so far only to be foiled by Ryan at close range. Successive penalties against Ryan Hulme and Ashton Jenion put the hosts on top in mid-period, with a flurry of activity around the Manchester net. Excellent penalty killing work, particularly by Oli Bayne, continued to keep the scoresheet blank. Matt Leeming was forced into another impressive save in the seventeenth minute as Rawson hammered in from the slot. Congestion around the net resulted in a difference of opinion between Rawson and Phoenix’ Ashton Jenion, and the pair were awarded Roughing penalties for their trouble. Phoenix resistance was finally broken in the 18th minute as after good approach work by Andy Hirst, Chris Sykes wrapped the puck in from behind the net with Leeming still sprawling from a previous save.
Early in the second period Oli Bayne was called for Slashing and Manchester were fortunate to kill the penalty, looking slow to respond in their own zone. Despite taking their share of time on the puck Phoenix were limited to just a few good goal scoring chances, which included a smart effort by Conner Dakin from the left and a Bayne shot which flew narrowly over the bar on the 25 minute mark. At the other end, Leeming plucked a Shaun Wild shot out of the air high to his left as Sheffield responded. Approaching the half way point of the game, increasing pressure told once more, as Steelhawks’ Andy Hirst cut through the Phoenix defence to squeeze the puck between Leeming and his left post for two-nil. Manchester began to suffer from their short bench and they took an increasingly rear-guard approach. A Hooking call against Jordan Bannon was successfully killed off, but soon after, Chris Sykes and Callum Rawson each hit the net to double the hosts’ lead at the second break.
Two powerplays kept Phoenix in the game as the final period unfolded. Tripping calls against Ryan Bridget and Brad Kitson took the pressure off the visitors, and with the man advantage, Joe Greaves went close, only to be denied by the lightning fast Declan Ryan. With the penalties played out, Sheffield pushed forward once more. The 50th minute saw a rocket from wide on the right chalk up the hat-trick goal for Chris Sykes and an unfortunate deflection gave the keeper no chance 35 seconds later as the Steelhawks made it six. Nicole Jackson took her turn between the Manchester pipes as Phoenix continued to work hard, Tom Revesz taking the puck from his own zone and skating coast-to-coast before being denied. With little over a minute left on the clock a frantic scramble around the Phoenix net allowed Callum Rawson to net his second and Sheffield’s seventh to wrap up their tenth successive victory.
Under difficult circumstances, Phoenix can take comfort from the fact that their well-disciplined, dogged effort restricted the impressive Steelhawks to one of their lowest winning margins of the campaign.
Matt Leeming 6/42
Nicole Jackson 1/10
Phoenix MVP - Tom Revesz
Tom Revesz was the Phoenix MVP
