A five-star performance from Slough Jets sniper Blaz Emersic saw them snatch an overtime victory at Manchester Phoenix.
In the first game of the New Year at the Altrincham Ice Dome, Phoenix got off to a flier, scoring two goals in the first 102 seconds through Adam Walker and Iain Bowie, before Emersic’s first reduced the deficit.
Tony Hand, missing experienced first line team-mate Ed Courtenay, grabbed his side’s third goal, but two more from Emersic tied things up at 3-3. Hand then gave Phoenix the lead once again before Dan Davies and Emersic against gave Slough the lead for the first time at 5-4.
Despite their slow start, the Jets looked a formidable unit. It was the first time I’d witnessed them this season, having missed their earlier trip to Altrincham, which resulted in a 6-1 victory for the visitors. They looked well on their way to another impressive away win when Davies’ second gave them a two goal cushion early in the third.
But Phoenix gave themselves hope when Adam Walker netted with just over two minutes left, and shortly after a Phoenix time-out, Robert Lachowicz cut inside and managed to find the back of the net courtesy of a Slough stick. Phoenix appeared to have Slough on the back-foot, and the game went in to overtime with Phoenix on a 4-3 advantage, courtesy of Adam Greener’s penalty, but Emersic had the last laugh, firing home a cracker to earn the visitors the extra point.
Manchester: Hand, Walker 2+2; Hagelburg 0+3; Lachowicz 1+2; Bowie 1+0; Mattson, Boothroyd, Wood 0+1. Net: Fone (63.29) 30/7
Slough: Emersic 5+2; Davies 2+4; Poljacek 0+5; Koulikov, J Greener 0+1. Net: Rockman (63.29) 35/6
Period Scores: 2-1/2-4/2-1/0-1
Shots On Goal: 30-35
Penalty Minutes: 24-16
Time-outs: 58:27 / 59:16
Referee: S Wardell. Linesmen: L Hetherington & L Sewell
Attendance: 1056
