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Four point weekend start for Phoenix

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Manchester Phoenix 11 - Sheffield Steeldogs 2.

Phoenix scorers: Frantisek Bakrlik x 3, Robert Schnabel x 2, Luke Boothroyd x 2, Robin Kovar, Jack Watkins, Ben Wood and Andrew McKinney.

J Davidson sponsored Manchester Phoenix put eleven goals past a hapless Sheffield Steeldogs who came in to this league encounter missing 2 key players and losing their starting netminder after just six and a half minutes.

Phoenix started at a furious pace and Frankie Bakrlik hit the pipes after just 40 seconds. Steeldogs were dealt a severe blow after 6 and a half minutes when Dalibor Sedlar made two great saves from Schnabel but appeared to pull a groin in doing so. He lasted just one more shift and had to retire, Steeldogs brought on 16 year old Thomas Barkworth for a baptism of fire. Phoenix found the net on 10.09 when a rocket from Robert Schnabel fizzed past the young keeper. Steeldogs equalised 3 minutes later with a crisp goal from Ashley Calvert as Lubomire Korhon dragged the Phoenix defence wide and fired the puck across to Calvert. Parity lasted less than two minutes as Robin Kovar made it 2-1 tapping into an empty net after a good pass from Tony Hand. The period ended with a dominant Phoenix well on top as they peppered young Barkworth.

Phoenix upped the tempo in the second period and goals from Jack Watkins, Frankie Bakrlik and Luke Boothroyd made it 5-1 before the Steeldogs reminded the crowd that they were not going to lie down without a fight. Craig Elliot scored the goal, assisted by Ashley Calvert and Lee Haywood. Phoenix however were determined to put the game to bed and 2 goals by Frankie Bakrlik made it 7-2 at the end of the 2nd period.

Much of the same in the third period as the Steeldogs tired and Ben Wood, Robert Schnabel, Andy McKinney and Luke Boothroyd finished off the scoring at 11-2. Man of the match for Phoenix went to hat trick hero Frantisek Bakrlik with Greg Chambers winning the award for the away team.

A convincing high scoring win takes Phoenix to the top of the table after the first weekend of competition. Phoenix travel to Slough next Saturday before hosting the same opponents at the Ice Dome on Sunday 22nd with the usual face off at 1730hrs.