Mixed fortunes for Phoenix

ICE HOCKEY: MANCHESTER Phoenix gained a morale boosting 4-3 win over Slough Jets to put themselves right back in the title hunt in ice hockey’s English Premier League.

However, they let it slip last night with a disappointing home defeat to Guilford.

Player-coach Tony Hand was integral to the win, masterminding a defensive approach as his side beat Slough for the first time this season.

Greg Wood took his goal tally to ten with a clinical double as Phoenix ran up a 4-1 lead that they never looked like dropping. Ed Courtenay - his 41st of the year - and Adam Walker added the other two.

Nicky Watt and Peter Poljacek netted with just over eight and three minutes remaining respectively, but Manchester were never in danger.

Yesterday, Phoenix went down 6-2 to fourth-placed Guildford.

Tied at the first interval through Steven Wallace, the second period saw Lubomir Hurtaj and Nathan Rempel open up an early two-goal lead.

Courtenay pulled one back from a Wallace feed but Martin Masa gave the visitors a 4-2 lead at the break.

In the third, Courtenay and Andre Payette were ejected for arguing with the officials but that was academic as Stuart Potts made it 5-1 then Masa added his second.

“Against Slough we were the more dominant side and the only real chances we gave them were on the powerplay,” said Hand.

“But last night we got what we deserved - nothing. ”