Match Report | 12th October 2009 » Manchester Phoenix 6-4 Sheffield Scimitars

Face Off: 7.00pm, Saturday 10th October 2009

10.10.09

A cracking and close game again between these two Northern teams, fast end-to-end action with neither team deserving to lose the points, though the Scimitars heartbreakingly did with 52 seconds left on the clock.

Both teams started briskly but Manchester then had to kill off an early minor penalty for hooking at 2.52, allowing the Scimitars to stretch their bus legs, but it was Manchester who scored the first goal at 5.59 after Ian Bowie collected a pass from Ed Courtenay. The Phoenix made the early running going forward, but were also stronger defensively too, denying the Scimitars some good chances. A misplaced pass allowed Lachowicz to take the score to 2-0 at 15.55 just as the Scimitars had killed off their third penalty. Robert Farmer downed Bowie in a skirmish and both went off for 2+2 roughing penalties at 17.02, which fired Sheffield up. Tom Squires scored on a delayed penalty at 17.32 to reduce the lead by one for a 2-1 finish to the first period.

Sheffield were much more disciplined and focussed in the second, causing Manchester problems with their determination and work ethic. Matt Haywood combined with Stuart Brittle for a great equaliser as he beat the keeper at 25.15. This triggered a retaliation by Ben Wood who received a match penalty for butt-ending, allowing Farmer the chance to put the team 3-2 ahead for the first time in the game, with a powerplay goal at 27.07. Tony Hand was denied a short-handed attempt on goal by Pasi Raitanen, who closed the door on Manchester in the middle period, with the Scimitars so nearly increasing the lead on a few occasions.

Manchester clawed an equaliser back at 45.01 by Adam Walker, after which both teams went flat out to claim the winner. James Archer lifted the Scimitars again after a race down the rink before beating Fone at 53.44 to go 4-3 up but Hand's clinical finish tied the game yet again. In the closing stages and a tremendous atmosphere, Sheffield fought hard to regain the lead again and all were hoping at least to take the game into overtime. However, it was Courtenay who took the winner 52 seconds from the buzzer, right in front of the goal and lifting the puck into the roof of the net. After a time-out, and a final last push by the Scimitars, MOM Tony Hand scored an empty-net goal for a 6-4 final score, which again did not reflect the closeness of the game. Robert Farmer was awarded the Scimitars' MOM for another hard-working and productive performance.

The Scimitars are at home again on Saturday 17th October, 7.30pm against Bracknell Bees, before going on the road for 3 consecutive away games.

Match Details
Period Scores:
Manchester 2 - 0 - 4 = 6
Sheffield 1 - 2 - 1 = 4
Penalty Mins:
Manchester 10 - 25 - 0 = 35
Sheffield 18 - 2 -2 = 22
SOG:
Fone 7 - 12 - 9 = 28/4
Raitanen 12 - 9 - 10 = 31/4

Scoring Details
Manchester: Hand 2+1, Courtenay 1+2, Walker 1+1, Lachowicz & Bowie 1+0,
Hagelberg 0+1. MOM: T. Hand
Sheffield: M. Haywood, Squires & Farmer 1+1, Archer 1+0, Brittle 0+2,
Bell & Goldie 0+1. MOM. R. Farmer
Referee: R. Szucs Linesmen: J. Liptrott & T. Stephenson
Attendance: 960
Not Icing: P. Jones
Icing: C. Wilcox

Next Match Report: Sheffield Scimitars 8-5 Bracknell Bees
21st October 2009
Previous Match Report: Sheffield Scimitars 3-7 Guildford Flames
12th October 2009

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