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Swindon Wildcats 6 - Manchester Phoenix 1

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Phoenix scorer: Robert Schnabel

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix travelled to Wiltshire to play the local Wildcats on Saturday night. Still missing the injured Stephen Fone and Joachim Flaten, they were boosted by the return of James Neil.

Once again Phoenix lost an early goal on the road as Swindon scored with 1.35 on the clock. New signing Ollie Betteridge was credited with tipping a Shane Moore slapshot past Jorge El-Hage. Swindon were pressurising the Phoenix defence and it wasn’t until the fifth minute that the visitors managed their first shot on goal. The first penalty of the evening fell to Tomas Fojtik of Swindon who had to sit out a 2 minute high stick penalty and the resurgent Phoenix power play took full advantage a minute later. Tony Hand found Michal Psurny behind the net and the pass to the blue line was one-timed by Robert Schnabel for the equalising goal. The rest of the period was fairly end to end with Swindon just having the edge. They took the lead on 16.58 with a power play goal of their own. Bari McKenzie was half way through a slashing minor when a slapshot by Aaron Nell was tipped over El-Hage’s shoulder by Henri Sandvik. An even period ended with the home side 2-1 in front and a shot count of 10-8 in the Wildcats’ favour.

Phoenix again had more shots on Dean Skinns’ goal in the second period but it was the Wildcats who added to the scoresheet. On 32.46, huge defender Tomas Fojtik found himself with plenty of space and time to hammer a slapshot through the screen for 3-1. In a flat second period, Phoenix out shot their hosts 12-5 but found Skinns in good form to deny any reward for their efforts. End of the second and Wildcats leading 3-1.

Manchester came out looking to get themselves back into the game but a double whammy in the first three minutes of the period settled the game in favour of Swindon. On 41.09 Betteridge scored his second of the evening and Aaron Nell made it 5-1 two minutes later with a clip over El-Hage’s blocker. Phoenix’s misery was complete on 52.31 when Nell scored a short hander with a wrister to make it 6-1. Tony Hand then took El-Hage out of the firing line, bringing on back up Andrew Jaszczyk for the final seven and a half minutes. There was no further scoring and a weary, disappointed Phoenix trudged off the ice after acknowledging the away faithful in the corner.

Phoenix will be looking to bounce back at home on Sunday against the Slough Jets with the usual 1730 face off.