ICE HOCKEY LIVE: Manchester Phoenix v Swindon Wildcats

3:51pm Sunday 18th November 2012 in Ice Hockey

This live event has finished

Latest

  • Manchester Phoenix 5-4 (OT) Swindon Wildcats
  • Wildcats travel to Altrincham Ice Dome hoping to bounce back from Saturday's overtime defeat to Peterborough
  • Ryan Aldridge's men looking to get EPL campaign back on track after two straight losses to the Phantoms
  • Join NED PAYNE for updates from 4.30pm with face-off at 5.30pm

7:52pm

7:52pm

OK, it was an overtime loss, but not THAT kind of overtime loss. Cats can take a huge amount of heart from this display. Superb spirit and unlucky not to win it in the end.

7:50pm

GOAL! (Manchester 5 Wildcats 4, 62.37)

Manchester have a winner but my were they made to work hard for it. Luke Boothroyd was the man that netted, assisted by Tony Hand and Michal Psurny.

7:46pm

Penalty killed.

7:45pm

7:45pm

Sam Bullas hurt and he comes off.

7:43pm

Cats have secured a point. Terrific effort. And they start overtime with a powerplay.

7:42pm

7:41pm

Powerplay For Cats. Phoenix have too many men.

7:41pm

Kapicka goes close. Eleven seconds left.

7:38pm

Two minutes left.

7:35pm

Just over four minutes left.

7:31pm

I didn't think it could get more incredible than last Sunday, but it might well do. Spellbinding stuff.

7:29pm

GOAL! (Manchester 4 Wildcats 4, 52.07)

Unbelievable! Cats are level and Kapicka has his hat-trick. Hoog broke superbly down the left and centred for the Czech, who finished high into the net. Stunning. Melichar also claimed an assist.

7:25pm

James Archer inches away. Might have hit the wrong side of the post.

7:24pm

Kapicka has a crack that's just over.

7:21pm

Scott McKenzie pings off the pipes! Drama here at Altrincham Ice Dome. Cats have 10 minutes to find an equaliser.

7:20pm

Penalty killed.

7:18pm

Too many men for Cats and it's a Phoenix powerplay. Floyd Taylor serves the two minutes.

7:18pm

A few good saves from Skinns.

7:12pm

Manchester look bang up for this. Decent chances at either end for Joachim Flaten and Jonas Hoog.

7:09pm

Here we go with period three. This is a real game, now.

7:06pm

6:58pm

Mightily impressive second period from the visitors. The first 20 minutes were as one-sided a game of hockey as I've ever seen - to come back from that shows enormous character. Can this be sustained in the third period?

6:46pm

Second period is done. Incredible end.

6:44pm

GOAL! (Manchester 4 Wildcats 3, 38.29)

Would you believe it? This game was dead and buried 20 minutes ago but Swindon are right back in it. Kapicka was the goalscorer this time and the visiting supporters go bananas. The goal was unassisted, for the record.

6:44pm

Psurny back.

6:43pm

GOAL! (Manchester 4 Wildcats 2, 37.20)

Do we fancy overtime now or not? That's Chris Jones' second goal for Swindon, which just about got across the line despite Fone getting plenty on it. Assist by Kapicka and Nell.

6:41pm

Two minutes for Psurny for tripping.

6:40pm

Credit to Cats, they have played better in this period. It's been much more competitive.

6:36pm

A double-decker bus might be more useful.

6:35pm

GOAL! (Manchester 4 Wildcats 1, 31.58)

The visitors' first real spell of pressure results in a goal. The puck is half-cleared to Joe Baird who fires into the danger zone, and Michal Kapicka is there to tuck in from close range. Aaron Nell also gets an assist.

6:29pm

Swindon are struggling to maintain any kind of pressure. Can only see more Manchester goals unless this game takes a drastic turn. 

6:29pm

Swindon are struggling to maintain any kind of pressure. Can only see more Manchester goals unless this game takes a drastic turn. 

6:25pm

Penalty killed.

6:24pm

Two minutes for Joe Baird for hooking.

6:24pm

GOAL! (Manchester 4 Wildcats 0, 23.36)

No sign of any letting up from the hosts as Tom Duggan blasts a slapshot in from an acute angle, despite the best efforts of the diving Jan Melichar to get a stick in the way.

6:18pm

Can't disagree with you there.

6:16pm

Second period is go.

6:00pm

First period over.

5:56pm

Can't remember Phoenix goalie Steve Fone being stretched in this period. It's been very one-sided.

5:53pm

Good point, well made.

5:52pm

Swindon have to find a way to calm this game down. They are beng walked all over at he moment.

5:50pm

Wildcats call time out.

5:50pm

GOAL! (Manchester 3 Wildcats 0, 11.10)

This just gets worse and worse for Swindon. The puck pings around the attacking zone and eventually falls to Ciaran Long, who lashes high into the net. Assists from Andy McKinney and Richard Bentham.

5:46pm

Manchester are playing some absolutely great stuff going forward so far. Swindon can't live with them.

5:42pm

Relentless Phoenix attacking at the moment.

5:41pm

GOAL! (Manchester 2 Wildcats 0, 3.50)

Make that 2-0. Psurny from Tony Hand and James Archer this time. Doubled the lead easily from in front of the net having put Skinns on his backside.

5:38pm

GOAL! (Manchester 1 Wildcats 0, 1.47)

Nightmare start for the visitors. Joe Baird lost control of the puck in front of the net and Michal Psurny blew a great chance to score in shooting over. Phoenix retrieve it and Ondrej Pozivil lifts high past Dean Skinns. Assists from Joachim Flaten and Psurny.

5:33pm

And we're off.

5:30pm

I'm hearing Watt is not playing tonight and Lee Richardson also appears to be absent from the ice.  Head coach Ryan Aldridge is out there, though, for a rare appearance for his team.

5:29pm

5:28pm

The referee tonight is Steve Wardell and his assistants are Jan Posladek and Chris Wells.

5:25pm

Lights off and out come the players.

5:17pm

The only black mark against the Phoenix is they refer to one 'Jonas Haag' in their programme. Er...

5:13pm

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Manchester is an ice hockey reporter's dream. Good press liaison staff, loud and clear announcer, comfy seats, plug-in points and a great 3G signal. On top all that it's a cracking arena. Now all I need is a good game. Optimistic.

5:10pm

We're just under 20 minutes away from face-off.

5:09pm

It's cold outside and it isn't much warmer inside the rink. Forgot gloves. Schoolboy.

4:59pm

Aren't we all? Now follow Chris's example you tweeters - get using #swindonwildcats and the best comments will be reprinted above.

4:51pm

Manchester are wearing some sort of Children In Need jersey tonight, which while highly commendable, is not the most stylish top I've ever seen. We're talking white and yellow with multi-coloured spots. Hmm.

4:47pm

Out come the Wildcats for their pre-match practice. The Phoenix follow seconds later.

4:47pm

Not icing for Swindon tonight are Matias Perkkio, Jamie Hayes and long-term absentee netminder Tom Murdy. Nicky Watt is touch and go having been in A&E in Basingstoke this morning for what I understand is a hand injury. Shane Moore made his comeback last night from an ankle problem and despite experiencing some pain, will play again tonight.

4:36pm

You have an excellent sense of humour Richard, clearly undamaged by recent results.

4:32pm

We're an hour away from face-off here in Altrincham where the Wildcats take on the Phoenix. Get your comments and predictions in using either the comments section below, or using #swindonwildcats on Twitter.

4:30pm

Right, here we go then...

3:52pm

Join Ned Payne for updates of Swindon's clash with Manchester at Altrincham Ice Dome from 4.30pm.

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