MANCHESTER Phoenix player coach Tony Hand’s last regular season game of his career was a memorable one as Adam Walker netted the game winning goal with just 26 seconds left.

With both sides locked at 5-5, Johan Burlin’s speculative shot bounced back into play off the chest of Wildcats netminder Stevie Lyle and Walker was on hand to roof the rebound with less than 30 seconds remaining.

With Tony Hand announcing his retirement at the end of the season last week prior to the Challenge Cup Final against Telford Tigers, Phoenix were in determined mood to send off Britain’s greatest ice hockey player on a high.

And back to back home wins did just that as a routine 6-1 win against Bracknell Bees on Saturday was followed up with the win against Swindon.

It was the perfect response from Manchester after losing in Challenge Cup Final against Telford on Thursday night 5-2 (8-3 on aggregate) and means they are well prepared for the play-off quarter-finals this weekend.

On Sunday, Phoenix opened the scoring with a neat finish from Frantisek Bakrlik before Robin Kovar made it 2-0.

Swindon however came back strong and netted three straight goals to take the first period lead.

Adam Walker netted his first to bring the home side level and Bakrlik put the home side back in front only for Sam Bullas to net for the visitors late in the period to level once again.

Loris Taylor put the visitors back in front with the visitor’s fifth goal but Kovar netted his second to continue the end to end scoring trend leaving Walker to finish the game in the dying seconds.

Man of the match Walker said: “That was tough out there. Swindon are a good attacking side and we did well to pick up the points.

"A four point weekend gives us the momentum going into next weekend’s play off quarter final against Basingstoke.

"Morale is great in the locker room and everybody is up and ready for the games.”

Phoenix now face third place Basingstoke Bison in the first round of the end of season playoffs with a trip to the Coventry Finals Weekend the prize. The first leg will be in Altrincham on Saturday with a 7pm face off in what will be Tony Hand’s final home game for Manchester.