Past Announcements & Reports

Sunday 14th October 2007 - Phoenix edged out in season opener.

The single goal by Catherine Fell was all that separated the two teams on Sunday. A new look Phoenix tried in vain to beat the Flintshire keeper but it wasn’t meant to be, ‘newby’ Beth Mabey saw her effort stop on the line early on and that seemed to be the way it was going to be all game. Missing Captain Nicky Blower and with Rosie Adey moving to the forwards the defense had a new but solid look about it. Returning from Vipers, Zoe Vince had a credible game with some excellent stops, she shared net duty with the other new Phoenix player Jodie Alderson (ex Telford) a good start to her Phoenix career saw some excellent stops in the third. Well done to both girls on a fine effort. Tobi Sellekaerts return to playing duty gave the defence a boost, and so soon after the birth of baby Calypso, she must be the youngest supporter so far at 3 weeks old.

Flintshire with just enough players played a gritty, grinding kind of game and the fact this was game 4 for them probably helped as they were sharper and quicker to the loose pucks. A good entertaining game which whilst not the prettiest kept the fans watching.

 

 

Sunday 4th November 2007 - Phoenix lose out to Furies….again!

Phoenix came within one period of notching their first win of the season on Sunday 4 November but Flintshire Furies proved too much on home ice, potting three in the third to carry them to a 4-2 victory. Up to that point, Phoenix had looked capable of reversing their loss to this same team just three weeks earlier, skating like dervishes and dominating play for much of the early going. But it was not to be. Phoenix got off to a storming start when Jayne Buxton whacked in a rebound following a goalmouth scramble, and followed it up with the goal of the game, a top shelf effort by Hannah Maurice after she’d deked the defender into a perfect screen on the keeper. Meanwhile at the other end, Phoenix starting goalie Jodie Alderson was kicking shots out like an old pro. She continued to do so for most of the second period until Flintshire snuck one past her. Moz was lucky not to be called for a mid-ice collision, and Carol Waite was lucky not to sustain serious injury when she was on the receiving end of a check into the boards, which also went unpenalised. But the luck in the third period seemed to be with the home side as they launched a barrage of rubber at Zoe Vince who took over in the Phoenix net. With Coventry apparently unable to mount more than a sporadic counterattack, Furies lived up to their name and skated out with the win. SOG – Jodie Alderson.

 

Saturday 17th November 2007 - Phoenix suffer at the hands of officialdom!

Phoenix got off to the best possible start against Sheffield, flying Finn, Hanna Olkinuora, found the target with a wicked wrist shot at 28 seconds, possibly the fastest goal yet in Phoenix history. Taking this as their inspiration, Phoenix settled down to play some decent hockey, knowing that Sheffield – a stronger side than in previous years – were not to be taken lightly. This was borne out when the Shadows scored through a crowd in front of Jodie Alderson in the Phoenix net. The home side continued to press with all three lines contributing. Unfortunately, so did Sheffield . They chipped away at the Phoenix and added two goals in the second to take a 3-1 lead before a decent and well-mannered game was ruined by inexperienced and ham-fisted officiating. First Phoenix lost Hannah Maurice and Tam Donohue through an altercation that started innocuously but blew out of all proportion, then goalie Alderson was adjudged to have kicked – at what, nobody in the rink including the entire Sheffield team and bench knows, and was thrown out of the game. Winger Sarah Powell gamely strapped on the pads and, predictably, Sheffield scored another five goals while the teams went through the motions for a final half-period. Abi Waters’ goal late in the game was small consolation as the match ended 8-2 – three goals to Sheffield, two to Phoenix and five to the referees.  SOG - Sarah Powell

 

Sunday 9th December 2007 - Phoenix post first points of the season

Phoenix got off to a quick start attacking the Thunder net but Blackburn were also threatening in equal amounts of the first period. The scoring opened with a nice ’line’ goal, Jayne Buxton finishing a nice move between Rosie Adey and Hannah Southam @ 5.29mins of the first. Phoenix probably had the best of the first with 10 attempts on goal but only one to show for the effort. At the start of the second the Thunder posted their intent with a levelling goal 20.31 from Crompton. Wilson grabbed another for the Thunder at 31.37 and the game seemed to be drifting away from a second period lack lustre Phoenix.

The third period saw the Phoenix rise from the ashes (yes I know its corny, but its might report) and after much pressure Jenny Adams was duly rewarded with a goal on her 2007 debut. More pressure saw Hannah Southam post a goal at 51.31 with a lovely solo effort and at 57.31 Rosie Adey finished it off with yet another weaving attack culminating her first goal of the season. Thunder gamely fought on with efforts from Lowe and Williams but Phoenix deservedly took home the points.

Phoenix: Buxton 1-0. Adey 1-1. Southam 1-1. Adams 1-0. Maurice 0-1.       SOG Carol Waite

Saturday 15th December 2007 - Phoenix so close to an upset @ 3-3

Game 5 of the season saw the Phoenix facing a visit from high flying Nottingham Vipers who at 5 wins from 5 games have the best form in the league. After last weeks success the home team were ready to give it their best and when Olkinuora opened the scoring at 4.57, assisted by ever lively Maurice it had the makings of a great game. An even first saw Vipers pull one back at 14.46 from ever dangerous Coughill.  Phoenix regained the lead in the second with Adams posting her second of the season (that’s 2 from 2) with Maurice assisting yet again. Straight into the game after the second break Phoenix added to their lead with Olkinuora again scoring a stunning goal assisted by another ‘new’ Phoenix player Alice Rothnie. The game heated up and Vipers tried to get back into the game, a pretty even game continued with chances at both ends, with Adey and Southam coming close in the Vipers zone. The Phoenix kept the Vipers at bay  until with less than three minutes to go a fine effort by Bailey beat Alderson in the Phoenix crease. Straight from the face off the Vipers surged forward and scored again, the Phoenix steadied and kept their nerve to ensure that they came away with a very well deserved point an probably thinking they should have had both.

Phoenix: Adams 1-0, Maurice 0-2, Olkinuora 2-0, Rothnie 0-1        SOG: Olkinuora

Sunday 10th February 2008 - Second Period sinks the Phoenix

After a superb showing against Nottingham last game, the Phoenix went into this game with high hopes, despite a new NM and one or two faces missing they felt up for the game. The day didn’t start well when the rink didn’t know there was a game and it got worse when the refs didn’t show up. Ben Toney one of the Coventry Coaches gamely stepped into the fray so the game could continue. A bright start to the game saw Olkinuora get on the sheet with just two minutes gone, Telford equalised and Coventry regained the lead just befor the period end with O’Hare getting on the sheet. The second period saw the Phoenix go into free fall and if I never see another game I will never understand why. They went from ‘on top’ to 11 - 3 down in the space of a period, Lester and Metcalfe  rarely got off the ice for Telford and bagged 8 between them. Coventry came out in the third and appeared to be the same team from the first with goals from Olkinuora (hat trick) and a super coast to coast from injured Captain Nicky Blower. Nicky’s goal was particularly sweet when you realise she did the same thing at Telford last season only to have it wiped out by a slow and visually impaired official. A tough game and an even tougher trip home, one to learn from…..oh yes and well done Ben a hard job to officiate!

Olkinuora 3 - 0, Blower 1 - 0, SJ O’Hare 1 - 1, Waters 0 - 1           SOG - Maurice, awesome game Hannah 

 

Phoenix: Adams 1-0, Maurice 0-2, Olkinuora 2-0, Rothnie 0-1        NM: - 1st - 7, 2nd - 6, 3rd - 6     SOG: Olkinuora

Sunday 17th February 2008 - Phoenix were ‘Nott’ going to lose this one!

Telford was pushed back as a bad memory as the Phoenix travelled up to Nottingham for what could have been a tough game, however they came out shooting with Sarah Powell opening the scoring with just 5 mins gone. More pressure from the Phoenix saw Maurice extend the lead just before the break. Into the second and Phoenix were once again slow out of the blocks allowing the Vipers to score just 43 seconds in. Phoenix extended the lead at 27 mins with Rosie Adey scoring with a cheeky wrap around. Vipers pulled one back before the break but the Phoenix replied with 28 seconds to go with Jenni Adams netting from close in. Into the third and the Phoenix demon returned with the Vipers netting after just 21 seconds. Two more unanswered goals put the Vipers in the lead, one of which crossed the line after the whistle but was awarded. The Phoenix were now on the back foot however Hanna Olkinuora stepped up and netted for the fourth time in two games. The Vipers regained the lead with an ‘undirected’ kick resulting in a goal. Both teams continued to press with the Phoenix throwing caution to the wind, and for the second time in as many games Captain Nicky Blower went ‘coast to coast’ to even the score. Vipers came hard but Jodie Alderson stepped up and made several super saves to give the Phoenix another point from the Vipers, the only team not to be beaten by them this season so far. A number of strange decisions undoubtedly helped the Vipers cause but an excellent display from the Phoenix ensured a point

Olkinuora 1 - 1, Blower 1 - 0, Powell 1 - 0, Adey 1 - 0, Maurice 1 - 0, Adams 1-0, Southam 0 -1      SOG - Hannah Southam 

 

Saturday 8th March 2008 - Phoenix back to winning ways

The Peterborough Penguins who celebrated their first victory this year at Flintshire had posted some decent sores so far but with a couple of key players missing, and like the Phoenix keen to get ‘newbys’ on the ice the Phoenix proved too strong. Just 3 minutes in Sara Jane O’Hare popped the first goal in and just a minute and a half later Hannah Maurice doubled the score. Seven minutes gone saw Hannah Southam add to the score and Jenny Adams posted yet another goal at 8.43. Simone Cheung must have been glad to see the back of the first with 2 coming back of the bar and at least 3 off the posts, the period finished 4 - 0. After an excellent face off in their own zone Sharon Khan raced up the ice and finished well to put the visitors on the score sheet just 28 seconds into the second. Hanna Olkinuora added a fifth less than a minute later with a super shot assisted by Abi Waters who ended the day on 3 assists. Hannah Southam added another before Rosie Adey put the seventh away. More pressure from the Phoenix saw the Penguins NM, who to her credit kept working hard, stopping shots from all angles. A much slower third period saw the Phoenix try out some real new players with Bratby (nee Tetley), Barber and Carter getting in some case’s their first start with the Phoenix and even a first ever game. Phoenix back up NM Tam Donoghue relieved Jodie Alderson and gave us a view of the NM she will become when more match practice takes effect, a solid and determined start. Sarah Jane O’Hare stepped up to double her tally mid way through the third, which ended the scoring. A creditable game by the Penguins, with as ever loads of effort, however a stronger Phoenix always probably had a little more in the tank when and if pushed. Simone Cheung faced 40 shots with just 8 in total on the Phoenix net.

Olkinuora 1 -  0, Blower 0 - 1, Adey 1 - 1, Maurice 1 - 0, Adams 1- 1, Southam 2 - 2, O’Hare 2 - 0, Waters 0 - 3, Buxton 0 - 1

 SOG - Sarah Powell 

 

Saturday 29th March 2008 - Sheffield Overshadowed by High Flying Phoenix

It was a mad dash up the motorway to ensure that top scorer Hanna Olkinuora made it to the game after flying in from a skiing trip, joining the team with minutes to spare the Phoenix jumped onto the ice with a real need to revenge the previous loss. With both teams starting the game quickly with pace and flair it was Hannah Maurice who put the Phoenix ahead at 13.13, assisted by Hanna Olkinuora and newly returned Hannah Bridges. Less than two minutes later the Shadows equalised with Emma Brown finishing well. Sheffield finished the period down to four players and on the return to the ice Rosie Adey, assisted by Tobi Sellekaerts and Jayne Buxton, sprung the Sheffield defence and a sweet slap shot left the NM with no chance at 20.26. Three minutes into the third Hanna Olkinuora finished an excellent pass from Hannah Maurice with the NM screened by her own defence. Sheffield poured on the pressure with Georgina Farman seemingly never leaving the ice, she eventually held off the attentions of the Phoenix defence to score at 58.42 after a super effort. The next minute or so seemed to go on forever for the Phoenix who have seen victory ripped from their grasp so often, however good solid work by the defence and excellent work by NM Jodie Alderson ensured that the Phoenix went home winners.

Phoenix: Maurice 1 - 1, Olkinuora 1 - 1, Adey 1 - 0, Buxton 0 - 1, Bridges 0 - 1, Sellekaerts 0 - 1,

Spirit of the Game: Abi Waters

Sunday 27^th April 2008 – Whitley Bay a long journey with no return

On the back of a long journey to Whitley and with a shortened bench due to illness in the squad the Phoenix shared the goals in the first period with Hannah Southam plucking a rebound from Rosie Adey’s shot and firing home to give the Phoenix something to shout about. However despite lots of effort they were unable to stop a quick and effective Whitley Bay team who posted a further 4 unanswered goals.

Phoenix: Southam 1-0 Adey 0-1

SOG: Bridges