Phoenix return to winning ways

Sunday, 30th December 2012

Manchester Phoenix 6 - Bracknell Bees 3

Phoenix scorers: James Archer x 2, Derek Campbell x 2, Tony Hand and Bari McKenzie.

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix bounced back from their disappointing defeat in Sheffield with a confident display against Bracknell Bees.

Tony Hand made a decision to start back up net minder Jorge El-Hage, giving Stephen Fone a Sunday off and it looked like backfiring after just 2:46 when Alan Lack hit a speculative shot to score. However the young local netminder came on to a solid game between the pipes to register his third win in three starts this season. Phoenix were stung into action after that early shock and scored a beautiful equalising goal after 6:43. James Archer finished off a sweet move between Campbell and Hand to lift the roof off the Dome. The home side took the lead on 9:15 with a Derek Campbell power play goal, assisted by Tony Hand and two minutes later had a two goal cushion. The Archer/Hand/Campbell combination worked again as James found the net for 3-1. Phoenix rounded off the first period scoring with 16:50 on the clock as provider Tony Hand turned goal scorer, netting from a Campbell pass. A great period of crisp, neat hockey by the home side saw a scoreline of 4-1 to Phoenix.

The second period produced only one goal and 11 recorded shots on goal in a tight stanza that saw Phoenix extend their lead to 5-1. Bari McKenzie got the goal with a neat shot past Carl Ambler on 31:32 after James Neil sent him off down the left wing.

The Bees got one back with an early third period power play goal on 41:10 with Tom Duggan sitting out a rather harsh tripping penalty that was given at the end of the second period. Veteran Martin Masa took the honours with assists to Lukas Smital and Scott Spearing. The visitors pulled back another goal with just less than 10 minutes left on the clock, Bees Man of the Match Alan Lack netting his second of the night with assists awarded to Sam Oakford and Martin Masa. Phoenix wrapped up the scoring and the points with just less than 4 minutes left when Man of the Match Derek Campbell scored his second of the night, assisted by James Archer and Richard Bentham.

A good performance to round off 2012 sees Phoenix in second place in the league just 2 points behind long term leaders Basingstoke Bison.

Coach Hand commented after the game: “It is always very important to bounce back after a defeat and the lads showed plenty of character to do just that tonight. We have had a tough schedule of 6 games in 11 days over the festive period and we will rest up for a couple of days then get back to the task in hand down in Milton Keynes on Saturday.”