Manchester Phoenix U18 vs Coventry U18

Tuesday, 6th December 2011

Saturday 3rd December 2011

A depleted squad of players today with missing players due to injury, game bans and those that have moved on.

Phoenix started sluggishly again with the away side showing early goal threat kept at bay with good home defending, this would prove to be short-lived.

The first penalty to Coventry led to an offensive zone face off which Phoenix lost, a very quick breakaway followed and the away side were in the lead 0-1 after 5.14.

Phoenix re-grouped and had a couple of shots saved, then after 10.54 we found ourselves 0-2 down, losing possession in our own zone.

The away side continued to press and scored another after 17.14 a fine finish, the period ended with the first Phoenix penalty for delay of game.

The 2nd period started with a fine save by Paddy, but Phoenix had come out much more determined.

After 23.23 Phoenix scored to make it 1-3 a scrappy goal eventually scored by Warren Baldwin assisted by Jared Dickinson and suddenly Phoenix had renewed hope.

This was quickly dispelled as the away side scored 2 quick goals after 25.17 and 27.14 followed by another after 28.55, the latter from another Phoenix lost face off in the offensive zone and the score was now 1-6.

Coventry had a player given a game penalty for fighting and Phoenix failed to capitalise on a 5 v 3 powerplay having no shots on target.

Coventry scored again after 34.12, again on Phoenix powerplay, a poor goal with no challenges made.

Phoenix managed to hold out to the end of this period at 1-7 under constant away threat. The 3rd period started a little more even with Phoenix having shots saved, but again this was nullified by 3 quick goals for Coventry after 45.05, 45.27 and 46.26 a disastrous 2 minutes for Phoenix with goals given up too easily, although the 10th goal was whilst the Phoenix net was dislodged from its moorings.

Penalties were then shared by both sides and Coventry scored their 11th goal after 53.22 as Phoenix were 3 v 5.

Phoenix managed another goal on 55.48 scored by Lee Pollitt after Sheldon Cassidy`s shot had been saved, 2-11, the crowd had hope of a great revival... until Coventry finally put the game to bed on 57.49 with the final score of the game for 2-12.

A poor display by the home side this week unfortunately against a side riding high in the league, Phoenix conceded 3 goals on PP, 3 goals on PK and scored 1 goal on PP.

The man of the match went to Warren Baldwin.