MANCHESTER Phoenix won and lost by the narrowest of margins in their back-to-back weekend league matches.

The Altrincham-based men toiled hard only to fall just short in a seven-goal shootout away to Guildford Flames at the Spectrum on Saturday.

Then they followed up with a tense 3-2 home victory over Milton Keynes Lightning after penalty shots.

Saturday's game saw the first period goalless and a minor altercation between Jez Lundin of the Flames and Bobby Chamberlain for which they both received a 2+2 minor penalty.

Ben Wood put the visitors ahead with just three minutes gone in the second period and the Manchester men held thelead until the final five minutes in which Flames scored two goals through Curtis Huppe and Jozef Kohut.

Branislav Kvetan hit Flames’ third goal early in the third period and ex-Phoenix favourite Andrew McKinney appeared to put the game beyond his old team with Flames’ fourth goal.

Two very late goals by Shaun Thompson and Tony Hand made it 4-3 but the Phoenix just did not have enough time to complete the comeback.

The J Davidson-sponsored Phoenix finally saw off the challenge of the Milton Keynes Lightning the following evening after a gripping game at the Altrincham Ice Dome.

Things started badly with the visitors taking a seventh-minute lead through Lewis Hook before the Phoenix lost netminder Steve Fone to an injury after a heavy collision with several players.

Forward Jack Watkins replied for Phoenix with a well-taken goal after 15 minutes and the second period was goalless with both Declan Ryan for Phoenix and Stephen Wall turned away a succession of efforts.

Milton Keynes restored their lead in the final period through Leigh Jamieson but the Phoenix responded with only six minutes left through Czech forward Robin Kovar to force overtime, and then penalty shots.

After six rounds of penalties, the Phoenix eventually emerged victorious with player/coach Tony Hand notching the winning goal, and four saves from Ryan.

This weekend Phoenix face two away trips to the Peterborough Phantoms and the Telford Tigers.