Manchester Phoenix 5 Telford Tigers 4 (after OT)

Manchester Phoenix rounded off their triumphant EPL league campaign with a dramatic overtime win against Telford Tigers, before being presented with the EPL trophy.

In the event, a game that meant nothing to either side (apart, it has been suggested, as a possible rehearsal for the EP playoff final in a couple of weeks) ended up being one of the most enthralling, exciting games of the season, as both sides played with a freedom and flair that was a joy to behold.

Phoenix came into their final home game on the back of a 3-2 overtime win at Peterborough Phantoms on Saturday, a result which ended any faint Phantoms hopes of clinching a place in the postseason programme.

In front of a bumper crowd it was clear that this was not going to be just another ‘dead rubber’ game. Telford are hotly fancied to be the dark horse of the playoffs, and they were keen to stamp their credentials on the game from the start. After soaking up plenty of Phoenix pressure in the early stages, Dan Davies pounced to give Tigers the lead on seven minutes, but James Archer equalised after 14 minutes.

Timo Kuuluvainen struck just three minutes into the second period to give Tigers the lead again, and while the game remained a fast, skilful, end-to-end affair with both sides enjoying periods of dominance, it was Telford who grabbed a third with a minute of the second period remaining when Danny Rose grabbed a marker on 38.59.

James Archer grabbed his second of the night on 41.20, and Phoenix pressed remorselessly for the next few minutes in search of an equaliser, but found the Telford defence resolute. However, in the unlikeliest of circumstances, Phoenix scored two short-handed goals in 30 seconds while killing the same penalty. Archer grabbed his hat-trick goal on 50:50 to level the score at 3-3, and then at 51:20 Tony Hand found himself in acres of space to crash in a fourth for Phoenix and give them the lead for the first time in the game.

Now it was Tigers who streamed forward to stay in the game, and it was no real surprise when their relentless pressure paid off five minutes from the end as Miika Kiviranta tapped in a fourth.

The game moved into overtime, and with a minute played, hot-shot Michal Psurny found himself the hero – as has so often been the case – to slot in the winner, send the Phoenix faithful into raptures and set the title celebrations in motion.

Tony Hand said: “In a game that did not have anything hanging on it, I thought both teams served up an entertaining match. We got our goals at key times and deservedly won the game. Credit to Telford for making a game of it and fighting to the last. Now we will get ready for the quarter final at Bracknell on Saturday.”

Phoenix will play Bracknell Bees in the EPL Playoff quarter final second leg at the Ice Dome on Sunday 30 March, starting at 5:30pm.