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MANCHESTER, UK - MANCHESTER Phoenix' EPL Cup Semi Final is delicately poised after a tight 2-2 tie in the first leg. Ciaran Long's 15th of the season seven minutes from time levelled up the contest ahead of Wednesday's decider. Phoenix should have been one up in the first period but had a goal chalked off by Dan Boardman who ruled that Tom Duggan's shot had not crossed the line when most people thought it did. The Flames then took the initiative as they jumped on a poor defensive pass to feed the puck through Rick Plant for Jozef Kohut to put them ahead. James Archer levelled it up three minutes into the third period after great work from Ciaran Long, but a quick break from Nathan Rempel and David Savage gave David Longstaff the space to give Guildford the lead once again. Phoenix kept up the pressure though and it was thanks to Captain Luke Boothroyd and Tom Duggan that Long could pull it back. Guildford had late chances to snatch another goal with two powerplays in the last four minutes but Phoenix' superb penalty kill – now just shy of 90 per cent for the season – denied the opportunities. "It was a tough game and it was hard fought and pretty even," Duggan said. "Both sides had chances but I felt we had the run of the game and if some bounces had gone our way we could have won. It's a good result and sets us up for Wednesday. "My 'goal'… I came out of the corner and the top of the net was open, so I shot and I think it might have hit three pipes. But the goal judge was adamant it didn't go in. Next time I will fire it more to the left!" The winner of Wednesday's second leg will face Sheffield Steeldogs in the final. Phoenix backed up that performance with a 5-2 English Premier League win over Milton Keynes last night. Goals from Ciaran Long, Juraj Faith, Tom Duggan, Ladislav Harabin and Martin Cingel ensured the gap to table-topping Guildford remained at eight points. Manchester do have a game in hand over their rivals. To contact the author email: Mike.Appleton@prohockeynews.com © Copyright 2012 by Prohockeynews.com Top of Page |
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