MANCHESTER Phoenix endured mixed fortunes over the holiday season with a comfortable win over Milton Keynes Lightning before back-to-back defeats to league leaders Telford Tigers.

Two highlight goals from man-of-the-match Adam Walker and a shorthanded goal from Robin Kovar put Phoenix on the path to a 5-3 victory against the Lightning last weekend.

With the home side locked in a 2-2 draw after goals from Bobby Chamberlain and Luke Boothroyd, Kovar broke the tie with a shorthanded goal before Walker netted his first on the powerplay to put Phoenix in control.

Walker then completed his personal double with a fine finish, stepping around Lightning netminder Stephen Wall to find the net.

Lightning did reduce the deficit with a Leigh Jamieson strike, but it was a mere consolation and Tony Hand’s men secured the points.

It was a different story over the weekend, however, as Phoenix were dealt two 6-2 defeats by Telford.

On Saturday the Tigers opened the scoring with a Jason Silverthorn goal in the fourth minute, but Michal Psurny brought the hosts level in the 23rd minute during Phoenix’s best spell of the game.

However, three goals in six minutes put the visitors in control and further strikes in the final period from Blahoslav Novak and Nathan Salem put the Tigers out of sight with only a Frantisek Bakrlik consolation goal added for Phoenix.

On Sunday the Tigers ran out 6-2 winners again in Shropshire leaving Phoenix to pick up the pieces from a poor weekend of results.

Hand said: “All credit to Telford on their win tonight. They played well and deserved the victory. However I was very disappointed with some performances tonight."