Manchester Phoenix 5 Milton Keynes Lightning 1

Manchester Phoenix overcame a determined Milton Keynes Lightning to secure a comprehensive win last weekend. Phoenix started slowly and Lightning tested goalie Stephen Fone in the early stages, but Phoenix took the lead on nine minutes with a goal by Bobby Chamberlain. The home side doubled their lead 10 minutes later with a Robin Kovar strike from the blue line. 

The second period was an even affair with both netminders showing their class, but Phoenix increased their lead on 37 minutes with a beautifully worked goal by Shaun Thompson. 

The third period opened with two goals in the first seven minutes. Milton Keynes deservedly pulled a goal back on 46 minutes through Leigh Jamieson, but Stephen wall in the MKL goal was beaten by a piece of Tony Hand genius just over a minute later to make it 4-1. Four minutes later, Phoenix again breached the Milton Keynes fragile defence and completed the evening’s scoring with a wonderful goal from Robin Kovar.

30 seconds later the game erupted with a coming together between Frankie Bakrlik and Grant McPherson, resulting in a short lived scrap that ended with the former receiving 10 minutes in minor penalties and McPherson picking up a total of eight. With just 37 seconds left, tempers flared again when Jacob Heron and Milan Kostourek came together. Heron was awarded 14 points but Kostourek was given a huge 40 minute penalty count – 2 plus 10 for a check to the head, 2 plus 2 for roughing and 2 plus 2 plus game for attempted spearing. Referee Pering blew up shortly afterwards to give Phoenix a comfortable 5-1 victory.