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Manchester Phoenix 6 - Swindon Wildcats 3

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Phoenix scorers: James Archer x 3, Ladislav Harabin, Ciaran Long and Stephen Wallace.

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix took on the Swindon Wildcats, looking to complete a 4 point weekend. They were without Tony Hand’s on ice skills and the Wildcats were missing Tom Murdy and Nicky Watt.

Phoenix took the game to the visitors and peppered Dean Skinns’ goal from the first whistle. Despite outshooting the Cats 17-10, Phoenix went to the first break a goal down. On 16.51, with the Phoenix rearguard up ice, supporting the forwards, the puck fell Swindon’s way and Jonas Hoog skated into the Phoenix zone on his own and beat Steve Fone for the go ahead goal. End of the first period 1-0 to Swindon.

Phoenix started the second period with a 2 man advantage and made it count after just 32 seconds. Phoenix worked the puck round the depleted Swindon defence and Slava Koulikov found Ladzi Harabin on the point and his one timer fizzed past Dean Skinns. The home side took the lead 72 seconds later when James Archer scored, assisted by Tom Duggan and Stephen Wallace. Phoenix made it 3-1 on 30.24 with young Archer’s second of the night and just over a minute later, the same player made it 4-1 with his hat trick goal. Aaron Nell scored for Swindon but rampant Phoenix scored their fifth of the game on 39.15 with a Ciaran Long goal, assisted by Slava Koulikov and Tom Duggan.

A brilliant period of hockey by Phoenix and they took their second break with a 5-2 lead.

Swindon fought back early in the third period with a goal from Bolton lad Paul Swindlehurst but Phoenix were always in command despite feeling the effects of a tough Saturday night game in Milton Keynes followed by a nightmare journey home, not arriving back in Altrincham until after 3am. However it was the home favourites who scored the final goal of the game on 56.23 with a Stephen Wallace power play goal. Final score 6-3 to Phoenix.

Jonas Hoog was awarded the man of the match for Swindon. Any one of half a dozen Phoenix players could have taken the home honours but it went to hat trick hero James Archer.

Coach Hand said after the game: “I thought we played well tonight. Swindon set out a defensive wall of five and it took time to break down. I thought the second line were tremendous tonight and it was good for James (Archer) to get his goals. We had a tough game in Milton Keynes on Saturday and maybe felt it a bit in the first period, but we got our goals at the right time and took the points.”