Phoenix singed by the Flames

Monday, 1st November 2010

Manchester Phoenix 3 Guildford Flames 4

Manchester Phoenix missed a great opportunity to put clear daylight between themselves and the chasing pack at the top of the EPL, after a weekend of mixed fortunes against the Guildford Flames.

Expectations were high on Sunday night as Phoenix entertained the Flames, mainly due to the stunning 3-1 away win at Guildford on Saturday night with goals from Marcus Kristoffersson, Greg Wood and Tom Duggan.

That win put Phoenix five points clear at the top of the EPL, and it was Kristoffersson again who opened the scoring on Sunday night, slotting home after nearly four minutes.

Already the game was being played at a frantic pace by both sides, and despite end-to-end action, there were no more goals and Phoenix led 1-0 at the first interval.

The pace continued in the second period, but errant passing, bad timing and merciless finishing by Guildford turned the game on its head in just over three minutes.

Nathan Rempel equalised for Flames on 27 minutes, and Ben Campbell took advantage to put Guildford ahead on 30 minutes. Rob Lamey netted a third for the Flames just over a minute later and the game looked in serious danger of running away from Phoenix altogether. Tony Hand sought to calm the nerves on 32 minutes when he carried the puck forward, deked Hala in the Flames goal and calmly lifted it over the Slovak netminder for a goal of genius.

Hopes of further recovery for Phoenix in the third period were dealt a body blow on 47 minutes, when Flames’ Paul Dixon stepped out of the penalty box and latched on to a breakaway pass from former Phoenix player Joe Graham. Dixon carried the puck before elegantly passing across the Phoenix goal to Matt Towe, who effortlessly swept in Guildford’s fourth goal.

Marcus Kristoffersson - the Phoenix man of the match - struck again in the 53rd minute to reduce the arrears to one goal, despite Hala’s insistence that the net was off its moorings before the puck went in. But despite more possession, Phoenix could not find the equaliser and Guildford took a vital two points back to Surrey.

Phoenix player coach Tony Hand said: “It was bitterly disappointing tonight, especially after our result on Saturday. What could have been a seven point cushion at the top of the league is now three.

“The game was played at top speed all night, and there was clearly a lack of concentration at times which cost us dearly.

“But we’re still on top, there are still a lot of games to play and we always learn from defeat and come back stronger, so there are still plenty of positives to take from the weekend.”