Manchester Phoenix 6-0 Guildford Flames Manchester Phoenix 6-4 Peterborough Phantoms TONY Hand’s Manchester Phoenix secured back to back festive wins to keep them top of the EPL through Christmas.

On Sunday 22nd, Phoenix ran riot against title rivals and current champions Guildford Flames with a 6-0 thrashing in front of a packed house.

After a scoreless opening period, Phoenix netted three unanswered goals in the middle period to take control with strikes from captain Luke Boothroyd, Michal Psurny and Robin Kovar.

Further goals in the final period from James Archer on the powerplay, Kovar netting his second breakaway goal and Robert Schnabel blasting home Phoenix’s sixth completed an impressive performance.

Hand said: “This was an important game for us and the team took their goals well. Guildford are a top team and although short benched, they looked dangerous.

‘I thought we dominated the second period and moving top of the league going into the festive break is good for the team.”

Phoenix completed their festive home double with a comfortable win over an improving Peterborough side that was handed an 11-0 loss last time they came to Altrincham.

The home side flew out of the blocks with four goals in the opening period with Hand, Kovar, Archer and Psurny short handed all finding the net with a lone strike from Phantoms’ Erik Piatak being the only reply.

The Phantoms dominated the second period but could only breach netminder Steve Fone’s defences once for all their hard work with former Phoenix forward Slava Koulikov finding the net.

The final period saw the teams trade two goals each with Kovar and Schnabel on hand for the home side to secure the points.

Man of the match Robin Kovar said: “We had a good first period and got the goals. We did not play well in the second but scored important early goals in the third period to keep us on top in the match.”