EPL ICE HOCKEY:

Manchester Phoenix 11 Peterborough Phantoms 0

Four goal hero Frantisek Bakrlik helped Manchester Phoenix maintain their iron grip on top spot in the EPL, as they demolished Peterborough Phantoms and maintained their 100 per cent start to the season.

Phoenix started the weekend’s games with a comprehensive 4-0 win away at Swindon Wildcats on Saturday night, with goals from Tony Hand, Michal Psurny, Robert Schnabel and Frantisek Bakrlik.

Liam Chong started the rout at home on Sunday with a goal on nine minutes, and Jack Watkins doubled the lead with a superb solo effort after 13 minutes. Bakrlik grabbed his first two minutes later.

Bakrlik bagged a second, and a fourth for Phoenix, just three minutes into the second period and Michal Psurny got on the score sheet on the half way mark. Gregg Pick tried to light a fire under his Phantoms team mates and fought with Andy McKinney on 32 minutes, but it failed to inspire the Phantoms and Bakrlik grabbed his hat-trick goal on 34 minutes. James Archer ended the game as a contest on 38 minutes, making it 7-0 to Phoenix.

Goalie Steve Fone was given the rest of the night off and Jorge El-Hage took his place between the pipes for final 20 minutes. He maintained a solid presence for the final period, including saving a penalty shot on 50 minutes that brought arguably the loudest cheer of the night. More goals from Psurny and Bakrlik, as well as markers from Robin Kovar followed as Phoenix ran riot, and Phantoms miserable night continued as Jaroslav Cesky received a 10 minute abuse of official penalty. Liam Chong finished the evening as it started with a goal five minutes from the end to make it 11 for Phoenix and to send out a strong message to the chasing pack.

Phoenix are in action against Slough Jets next Sunday 6 October, starting at 5:30pm.