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MANCHESTER, UK - LADY luck finally smiled on Manchester Phoenix as they produced a fine backs-to-the-wall performance to beat Milton Keynes 4-2. Missing Stephen Wallace and Player-Coach Tony Hand through injury and losing feisty forward Tom Duggan midway through the second period, they rolled just two lines to secure their first home win in the last four attempts last night. Martin Cingel was the hero with a hat-trick – but it was his second – a tame shot from the left that rebounded off Alex Mettam's pads in the Milton Keynes goal that gave Phoenix the victory and put them on the verge of an EPL Semi Final Cup place. Manchester got off to a flyer in the seventh minute when Duggan showed great strength and vision to slot in linemate Ciaran Long. Four minutes later Martin Cingel made it 2-0 after great work from the lively Slava Koulikov and Luke Boothroyd. In the second period, Mettram stopped Juraj Faith at point blank range before Leigh Jamieson began the Lightning's comeback. He took advantage of a powerplay and then scored a carbon copy in the 46th minute to make it all square. Phoenix were on the rack at that point – struggling from the loss of Duggan and a lack of numbers in the forwards. The youngster had mistimed a big check midway through the second and landed shoulder first into the boards. Without him, his teammates stood tall two goals from Cingel as well as a clinical penalty kill saw Phoenix take the spoils. The result was all the more remarkable considering the 9-0 thrashing they received at Slough on Saturday. Phoenix were simply dreadful as the Jets crushed them with a powerful display. Hand didn't travel with his team after an ankle operation on Thursday and it left his side bereft of direction. Manchester were only one down after the first period but six goals in a disastrous second all but ended Manchester's English Premier League title defence. Although they are only half-way through the regular season, it would take an massive turnaround in form for Phoenix to claw back 12 points on leaders Guildford Flames. Hand probably won't return before the beginning of March, but Wallace should recover from his broken wrist by the second week of January. Forward Josh Ward will also be back for the game against Sheffield Steeldogs on December 27 after being on tour with Great Britain's Under 20s. To contact the author email: Mike.Appleton@prohockeynews.com © Copyright 2011 by Prohockeynews.com Top of Page |
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