Sheffield Steeldogs 4-7 Manchester Phoenix

Guildford Flames 6-3 Manchester Phoenix

A SHORT benched Manchester Phoenix had to settle for one win from two tough games on the road last weekend as they took on Sheffield and Guildford.

Tony Hand’s side were yet to beat Yorkshire rivals Sheffield this season before Friday’s fiery encounter at Ice Sheffield, which notched up a massive 214 penalty minutes.

The hosts drew first blood with a Lloyd Gibson strike in the 9th minute but Phoenix stormed back with goals from the returning Frantisek Bakrlik and Adam Walker before the first break.

The puck hit the net six times in the second period with Phoenix coming out on top with a 6-3 lead, goals from Bakrlik, Shaun Thompson, Michal Psurny and Robin Kovar putting the visitors in control.

Thompson struck his second of the night and Phoenix’s seventh in the final period to halt any kind of comeback from the hosts and Manchester sealed their first win against the Dogs this season.

On Sunday night however it was a different story as Phoenix went down to fellow title contenders Guildford Flames 6-3.

Goals from Bobby Chamberlain, Michal Psurny and Adam Walker were not enough as the Flames took advantage of a tired and road weary Manchester side.

Owen Fussey and Ben Campbell were the thorns in Hands side as they both netted doubles whilst further goals from Danny Meyers and Matt Towe condemned Phoenix to defeat.

Phoenix return home to the Altrincham Ice Dome on Thursday night to face the Sheffield Steeldogs once more before turning their attention to the EPL cup on Saturday night with a visit from the Billingham Stars.