Manchester Phoenix 3 Swindon Wildcats 4 (after OT and pens)

Manchester Phoenix had a mixed start to their EPL campaign this weekend.

Anxious to make a strong beginning after their heavy pre-season loss in the Roses challenge, Phoenix travelled to Bracknell on Saturday where goals from Robin Kovar, Michal Psurny and a first for new signing Shaun Thompson gave Phoenix a healthy 3-1 win. 

Their home league campaign started on Sunday against Swindon Wildcats, and James Archer was in the right place to give Phoenix the lead after just 73 seconds. Phoenix doubled their lead just before the halfway point when Frantisek Bakrlik scored with a blistering shot that surprised Stevie Lyle in the Swindon goal. Tomasz Malasinski gpulled a goal back for Wildcats on 37 minutes, and Swindon were slowly grinding Phoenix down and looking the better side as the period drew to a close.

There were just 31 seconds on the clock in the third period when Swindon equalised through Oliver Betteridge. Phoenix re-grouped and regained the lead on 42 minutes with a Michal Psurny goal, but they tired visibly as Aaron Nell out-stripped the defence to score on 54.50 and make it 3-3. With no goals in overtime, the game went to a penalty shootout, and Jan Kostal grabbed the penalty winner to give Swindon the win.

Coach Tony Hand said: “This was always going to be a tough opening weekend. It is never easy in Bracknell and I thought the lads played well and kept to the game plan. I thought our defence played well on Sunday. They were under a lot of pressure from Swindon. I feel we need more from our forwards if we are to challenge for the title this year.”