Phoenix clipped

ICE HOCKEY: Manchester Phoenix were handed a real thumping by Peterborough Phantoms last night.

The English Premier League leaders were thrashed 8-4 at the home of last season's Grand Slam winners.

First period goals from Andre Payette and Tony Hand cancelled out Peterborough's 2-0 lead before Adam Walker levelled matters once again midway through the match.

But that was as good as it got as the Phantoms scored three without reply and then added another double after Jaakko Hagelberg had made it 6-4.

Phoenix will look to get back to winning ways this weekend when they host Guildford tomorrow (7pm) before travelling to Romford a day later (5.15pm)

They will be without defencemen Joe Graham and James Neil as well as forwards Robert Lachowicz and Iain Bowie who are in Hungary for the next two weeks with the Great Britain under-20s side.

Forwards John Murray, Jake Nurse and Andy McKinney, defenceman Max Drakeley and goaltender Declan Ryan have been called up from the Trafford Metros, the club's nursery team, to replace them.