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Phoenix set their stall out for the big cup clash

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Manchester Phoenix 5 - Swindon Wildcats 2

Phoenix scorers: Frantisek Bakrlik, Bobby Chamberlain, Robin Kovar, Tony Hand and Michal Psurny

J Davidson sponsored “Men of Iron” Manchester Phoenix and the Swindon Wildcats met in an EPL match which was widely thought of as a dress rehearsal for the important cup semi final on Thursday night.

The first period was fast and furious with Phoenix dominating the first 5 minutes. Frankie Bakrlik picked up his usual early penalty from referee Mr Brown on 7.43 but Phoenix killed it off. Swindon took the lead with a goal from import Jan Kostal on 15.28 when he shot past Stevie Fone from a tight angle The period ended with a fantastic Stevie Fone save from Jonas Hoog and the teams went to the break with Swindon a little fortunate to be a goal up.

With Kenton Smith in the box for slashing late in the first period, Phoenix got themselves into the game with a Frankie Bakrlik power play goal assisted by Michal Psurny and Robin Kovar. Swindon, though, never give up and they re-took the lead on 29.27 with a goal from their new power forward Tomas Kana, assisted by Aaron Nell after a poor line change by Phoenix.

Frankie then hit the post with a rocket and we had a bit of a stramash between Frankie and Shane Moore, with Frankie getting a delay of game for shamelessly allowing Moore to sit on him along with a 2 minute holding call. Moore was given the same penalty. Phoenix found themselves level for the second time when Bobby Chamberlain wound up for a big shot on Lyle and tricked him with a slow shot that crawled past the netminder and into the goal. Goal timed at 37.58 and assists to Tony Hand and Michal Psurny. Robin Kovar gave Phoenix the lead for the first time on 42.07 when he banked the puck off Stevie Lyle’s skates for 3-2.  It should have been 4 just a minute later when Tony Hand beat Stevie Lyle only for it to be washed off for the net having been kicked off by Lyle. But karma is such a sweet thing and it happened 3 minutes later when Tony himself was on (Hand) to sweep the puck into the net at the back post on 46.02. Michal Psurny completed a good win for Phoenix when he roofed a Robin Kovar pass for 5-2 with 58.12 on the clock.

A great win for Phoenix but not as easy as the score might suggest as both netminders worked hard all night.

The teams meet again on Thursday night in the Cup semi final second leg with the teams level at 3-3. Not one to be missed. Face off is at the usual Thursday time of 19:30.