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EPL Play-offs semi final

Sunday, 7th April 2013

Manchester Phoenix 5 - Basingstoke Bison 4 (Penalty shots)

Phoenix scorers: James Neil, Joachim Flaten and Tony Hand x 2
Penalty shots: Michal Psurny score, Luke Boothroyd miss, Bari McKenzie score, James Archer score.

Basingstoke were missing Kurt Reynolds and a couple of GB under 18 players and J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix were at full strength and included Cade King and Jared Dickinson from the Metros.

Phoenix were very slow out of the traps and Bison controlled the early exchanges with Greg Owen and Joe Rand causing all sorts of problems. However it was Phoenix who took the early lead when James Neil converted, assisted by Tony hand and Michal Psurny on 8.27. Bison continued to dictate most of the play and it was no surprise when Greg Owen hit the equaliser 3 minutes later. Assists went to Greg Chambers and Alex Symonds. Phoenix slowly got themselves back in the game and tested Stevie Lyle on a couple of occasions. Bison took the lead for the first time on 18.03 when Doug Sheppard converted a Jasolav Cesky pass to go to the first break with a 2-1 lead.

Phoenix had to change the game plan in the second to counteract the Bison breakouts and with 24.10 gone, Tony Hand found a gap in front of the net, after taking a pass from Michal Psurny, to make the score 2-2. Phoenix were finding their normal game by this time as James Archer and Tom Duggan caused the Bison defence no end of problems and the huge Phoenix support went into raptures just 31 seconds before the period break as Joachim Flaten appeared to head the puck past Lyle for the go ahead goal. Luke Boothroyd was given an assist on the goal and a much happier Phoenix side went for their second cup of tea with a 3-2 lead.

Once again an early period goal changed the game. This time it was Basingstoke who got the goal to tie the scores at 3-3. After a bit of a mêlée around the crease, Greg Chambers was the first to react to a bouncing puck to fire past Stephen Fone. The goal light did not go on immediately and Cesky took his protest to the goal judge in a rather intimidating manner and he was dispatched to the penalty box on a 10 minute misconduct call. Phoenix had to find a quick reply and 63 seconds later they did just that. The puck was worked out to the left wing and Robert Schnabel fired a rocket goalwards and found Tony Hand at the back post to put Phoenix ahead once again. Ex Phoenix forward Joe Miller broke the hearts of the Phoenix faithful on 45.11 with an opportunist goal, assisted by Doug Sheppard and Joe Greener. There was no further scoring in the period and the teams went to sudden death 4 on 4 overtime.

The extra five minutes was fairly cautious from both teams with only two shots on goal recorded to the Bison and, for the second year in a row, Phoenix would have to win the shoot out to progress to Sunday’s final.

Michal Psurny took the first shot and easily beat Lyle to put Phoenix 1-0 up. Jaroslav Cesky was first up for Bison and he made no mistake to tie the scores once again. Luke Boothroyd took the next shot for Phoenix. He beautifully deked Lyle but could not control the puck and the opportunity was gone. Joe Rand converted for Bison to take the lead and Bari McKenzie netted to tie the scores once again. Joe Miller had the chance to put Bison in the final but he missed. James Archer scored to put Phoenix ahead then 500 Phoenix fans erupted in joy as Doug Sheppard missed his shot and Manchester Phoenix were through to the final and a match against Grand Slam chasing Guildford Flames who beat Milton Keynes Lightning 3-2 in the afternoon game.

Coach Tony Hand commented after the game: “I thought we were slow to get going tonight but we hit our game in the second period. Basingstoke are a good side and this was a good win. I thought the lads showed great character and we are all looking forward to the final.”

Celebrating the shoot out win

Celebrating the shoot out win
(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

Steve Fone makes the save that wins the game!

Steve Fone makes the save that wins the game!
(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

Bari McKenzie fires up the bench after scoring his penalty shot

Bari McKenzie fires up the bench after scoring his penalty shot
(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

Coach Hand gives a team talk

Coach Hand gives a team talk
(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

Steve Fone shuts down the Bison attack

Steve Fone shuts down the Bison attack
(Image: Richard Amor Allan)

Robert Schnabel collides with Joe Miller

Robert Schnabel collides with Joe Miller
(Image: Richard Amor Allan)