JAMES Archer fired Manchester Phoenix into their first ever Challenge Cup final with five goals in a 10-5 rout of Swindon Wildcats.

With the semi-final tie locked at 3-3 after the first leg in Swindon, Phoenix put the Wildcats to the sword with the performance of the season last Thursday.

And they followed up with another big victory when they beat Milton Keynes Lightning 5-1 in the league on Sunday.

In the semi-final, Brit forward Archer was joined on the scoresheet by Michal Psurny, Adam Walker, Joe Graham, Robin Kovar and Shaun Thompson in the second leg dismantling of their Wiltshire opponents.

Archer opened the scoring on the powerplay followed quickly by a neat finish from the rushing Graham.

Phoenix then went goal crazy with four unanswered strikes before the Cats responded through Tomas Kana.

Thompson restored Phoenix’s six-goal cushion but the Cats added their second before the break.

Any hopes of a comeback were ended in the final period with three further strikes from the home side as Walker, Archer and Kovar completed the rout.

Swindon made the scoreline a little more respectable thanks to Kana, Jonas Hoog and Shane Moore goals.

Man-of-the-match Archer said: “For me personally it was good to get my scoring touch back but this was an amazing effort by everybody.

"We really wanted this result for coach Hand and the best fans in the league bar none. The noise was fantastic tonight and we can now look forward to the final against a good Telford side and get a good run going as we gear up for the play offs.”

Tony Hand’s side were in control against Milton Keynes three days later after opening period goals from Bobby Chamberlain and Robin Kovar.

Shaun Thompson made it three in the second period, and after the Lightning reduced the deficit with a Leigh Jamieson goal early in the final period Hand made it 4-1 from behind the goalline and a second from Kovar completed another impressive victory.