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Stalemate in cup semi-final

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Manchester Phoenix 2 - Guildford Flames 2

Phoenix scorers: James Archer and Ciaran Long

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix scored late on to gain a well-earned draw against EPL leaders Guildford Flames in the EPL Cup semi final 1st leg.

Flames were icing without top imports Branislav Kvetan and Curtis Huppe. Phoenix were without Tony Hand, Jorge El-Hage and late call-off Stephen Wallace. Stephen took a puck to the leg in warm up and was unable to continue.

The first half was end to end with Phoenix creating the better chances and half the rink thought they had taken the lead on 18.08 as the puck appeared to bounce out of the net high underneath the crossbar. Referee Boardman was well positioned and immediately washed the goal out. Some were convinced the puck had in fact gone into the net. However, the period ended 0-0 with Phoenix having the better share of possession.

The second followed the same pattern with Phoenix having some good chances on power play opportunities but found the well disciplined Flames defence hard to break down. The home crowd were stunned into silence on 35.14 when a slack pass out of defence was picked up by Rick Plant and he found Jozef Kohut all alone on the left to slide the puck into the net for 1-0. No further scoring in the period and Flames, somewhat fortuitously leading 1-0.

Phoenix came out determined to address the arrears and equalised with a brilliant James Archer goal on 43.19. Ciaran Long worked hard behind the goal and found Archer, who swivelled and hit an unstoppable shot past Mark Lee in the Guildford goal. Guildford were playing a patient game, with a well drilled defence waiting to break out at every opportunity. One such break out brought their second goal when David Longstaff scored, assisted by Nathan Rempel and David Savage. Phoenix kept to their game plan and equalised on 53.39 with a neat goal from Ciaran Long, assisted by Luke Boothroyd and Tom Duggan. Guildford had late chances to snatch another goal with two powerplays in the last 4 minutes but a dogged rearguard made sure that the Phoenix goal stayed intact. In fact Phoenix had a couple of short-handed chances themselves that could have given them a first leg lead.

Man of the match awards went to Mark Lee for Guildford and Tom Duggan for Phoenix

Half time in this cup semi final with all to play for in the second leg next Wednesday at the Spectrum. Sheffield Steeldogs await the winners of the second game in the final.