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Phoenix run riot in Deeside debut

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Manchester Phoenix 6 - Swindon Wildcats 2

Phoenix scorers: Robin Kovar x 2, Nico Aaltonen, Gareth O’Flaherty, Michal Satek and Stanislav Gron.

Manchester Phoenix sent a sizeable home crowd happy with a resounding win over Swindon Wildcats. After their 3-3 draw in Swindon, they came out of the traps fast and furious just like they did the previous evening. The home side went in front on 9.18. With referee Perring having his hand up for a delayed penalty, Phoenix took no time at all to strike the first goal  of the  evening.

Great work down the right wing by Gareth O’Flaherty found Nico Aaltonen who switched to Robin Kover to net easily past Hadley in the Swindon net. Nico Aaltonen made it 2-0 on 15.22 with Phoenix dominating the match. Assists went to Robin Kovar and Ben Wood.  Shots on goal may have been even at the end of the 1st period but Phoenix’s two goals left the home side in command at the first break.

Swindon came back at Phoenix in the second but an outstanding individual goal from Michal Satek on 28.12 made it 3-0. Ben Wood sent Michal off down centre ice and a lovely double deke left Jordan Hadley in the Swindon goal floundering as the Phoenix forward swept the puck home.

Swindon continued to have their chances and found tmselves on a 5 on 3 powerplay after a Ben Wood roughing call and a Luke Boothroyd delay of game penalty. However Phoenix punished some slack defending by Swindon with a short handed goal by Robin Kovar.

Then came the Stephen Fone show as the Phoenix back stop pulled of a combination of saves to maintain their lead. One triple save in front of his net looked like the save of the season as Swindon shook their heads in disbelief as the puck  refused to find the net.

The third period began with the storyline similar to that which was being told throughout the game.

As Phoenix continued to  put the visitors under pressure. James Archer fell foul of the referee and found himself in the box for hooking but once again Robin Kovar roofed the puck on the resultant short handed power play There was time for one more Phoenix goal when Stanislav Gron found the net on 48.31 to make the score 6-1. Phoenix showed some signs of tiredness in the last 10 minutes and Swindon scored a couple of consolation  goals on 53.26 and 57.25 to take the edge away from a Robin Hood film .

A great performance by Phoenix resulted in an outstanding 6-2 scoreline in favour of the Manchester side.

Phoenix’s next games are our first Red Hockey Cup ties against Telford Tigers, away on Saturday 5th September, and then home at Deeside on Sunday 6th September with an 18:30 face off.