Manchester Phoenix are the EPL play-off champions for the first time after beating league and cup winners Guildford Flames 5-2 in Coventry on Sunday.
Top scorer Michal Psurny claimed two goals, with coach Tony Hand, captain Luke Boothroyd and James Archer all scoring one apiece in an impressive showing.
Phoenix were not to be denied again having lost to Slough Jets in last year’s final, and pick up their first trophy since winning their first EPL league title in 2011.
Coach Hand said: “I am really proud of the whole team tonight. They executed our game plan to perfection and this must go down as one of our best ever performances. Guildford are a great organisation and team but tonight was to be our night.”
Boothroyd opened the scoring just before the ten minute mark, and despite no more goals in the first period, Phoenix were well on top.
Fans who travelled to the SkyDome began to realise they were watching something special as Manchester added two more unanswered goals in the second period through Archer and Psurny scored the first of his goals with four minutes left. Bari McKenzie and Liam Chong picked up assists.
Flames did not allow Phoenix an easy ride however and pulled a goal back within a minute of the final period starting through Nathan Rempel, and this goal led to sustained heavy pressure on the Phoenix goal although Steve Fone’s net was not breached again before his opposite number Mark Lee.
Hand struck a hard shot past Lee having spotted the Flames’ netminder off his post, despite being a man down with Joachim Flaten penalised for high sticks.
Two of Phoenix’s imports combined for the fifth goal. Pozivil lined up Psurny for the Czech forward’s second of the game, and 43rd of an impressive debut season in the EPL.
Flames netted a consolation through Branislav Kvetan, but it was to be Phoenix’s day as man of the match Fone kept Guildford at bay as they pushed for a comeback with several crucial saves.
Coach Hand said: “I’m really pleased for the fans. They have been superb all season both home and away and the turnout this weekend is amazing. We are so glad, as a team, to win the trophy for them.”
Phoenix denied Flames the treble a day by picking up the play-off title, with Guildford nevertheless picking up a league and cup double for the 2012-13 season.
Phoenix beat Basingstoke Bison on penalty points on Saturday to set up a final with Flames, who eliminated Milton Keynes Lightning in the other last four clash.
With the game tied at 4-4 after overtime (Phoenix’s goals came courtesy of a Hand double, Flaten and a rare strike for James Neil), penalties were the only way to separate the teams.
Archer scored the decisive penalty after Psurny and McKenzie had scored theirs with Boothroyd not converting his effort. Doug Sheppard missed his penalty to send Phoenix through.
Phoenix came third in the league and, as the summer break begins, attention will now turn to which players will be staying at the Ice Dome for another season and which new signings will join them.
Follow @spoldham on Twitter
Photo courtesy of Richard Allan, with thanks
For more on this story and many others, follow Mancunian Matters on Twitter and Facebook
