The Manchester Phoenix Under-19 squad finally took to the ice in the new Altrincham Ice Dome on Saturday afternoon and overcame dogged opposition from Grimsby to record their first true home win of the season with a 6-3 victory.

The Phoenix opened their home account with just 25 seconds on the clock - Alex Burgess netting the historic marker. Grimsby though fought back to level the game in a somewhat nervous and scrappy first period before a second marker saw them take a 2-1 lead into the first break.

Phoenix raised their game in the second session to equalise through Jake Nurse with the first of his personal brace only for Grimsby to regain the lead inside twenty seconds. Phoenix re-doubled their efforts and Jason Pirie drew them level as the home side finally began to get the upper hand. Grimsby though were battling hard and some dogged defence by the visitors from the east coast kept the Phoenix at bay and the sides were locked at three apiece going into the second interval.

The third period finally saw Phoenix take control and Grimsby were forced into some desperate defending. The breakthrough finally came in the 48th minute as James Pirie fired the Phoenix ahead for a lead they would not relinquish. The home side were now well on top and dominating the play but the insurance goals didn't arrive until the final six minutes. Jake Nurse bagged his second of the game and the Phoenix fifth, and two minutes later the first home win and two valuable points were wrapped up as Tom Hammond drove home the sixth with a powerful blast from the left wing.

The win lifted Phoenix into the top half of the Conference table, leapfrogging Grimsby.

They came up against the high-flying Solihull Knights on Sunday afternoon, however, and were unlucky to lose 4-3.

Fresh from their win over the Blackhawks on Saturday, the Phoenix set about the Knights from the first face-off and a brace of powerplay goals from John Murray in the 14th and final minute of the period saw the home side in control at the first interval.

However, the break in play served the visitors the better and they justified their higher league position by hitting the Phoenix with three goals in the opening eight minutes of the second period. More alarmingly for the Phoenix was the indiscipline that saw the first Knights goal come on a delayed penalty while the second and third were both powerplay markers. Phoenix showed great determination to respond almost immediately to tie the game as captain Alec Burgess scored assisted by Jake Nurse and Murray.

Solihull came out hard to start the third period and Adam Summerfield in the Phoenix goal was called up to make a number of high class saves. But, even his resistance wasn't enough as with Dan Berry in the penalty box, the Knights scored their third powerplay goal of the afternoon in the 44th minute. Phoenix tried hard to respond and Mervyn Tasker in the Knights goal did well to foil Hannah Beaumont with an excellent save before Phoenix ran in penalty trouble. John Murray drew a 2+10 minute penalty and shortly afterwards, Joe Mann was dismissed on a Match Penalty for Roughing. A superb solo break by Jake Nurse drew another good stop from Tasker, and with time running out, Phoenix pulled their goalie and were lucky not to concede an empty-netter as the Knights shot on the unguarded goal hit a post and went to safety.

Elsewhere on Sunday, the Phoenix Under-14 squad travelled to the northeast and a tough away game in Whitley Bay. Despite a 7-1 score line in favour of the home side, a Phoenix spokesman said: "Whilst it might not appear a good result, we take heart from what was a better result than some expected. Whitley Bay is a tough rink to play in and the 14s will gain a lot from the experience."