A sensational two goals apiece from Blaz Emersic and Andre Smulter sent Milton Keynes Lightning into a 4-0 lead to stun league title hopefuls Manchester Phoenix at the Thunderdome.

In front of one of the biggest crowds of the season both teams served up some fast end to end hockey but it was not until 45 seconds from the first break that Emersic set up Smulter for the first goal.

Lightning doubled their advantage on 27mins 54secs when, this time, it was Smulter the provider for the Slovenian, Emersic to fire past goalie Steven Fone.

Less than two minutes later Emersic netted unassisted on 30mins 36secs to make it 3-0 to put Lightning into a commanding position.

Even when Nick Poole was called for tripping Phoenix could not find a way through and instead it was the home side who were on the scoreboard again. This time Emersic made a pinpoint pass for Smulter to latch onto and go on a breakaway before dummying Fone and then finishing off at 33mins 56secs.

Phoenix finally got off the mark with 1min 18secs of the middle period remaining as Tony Hand supplied Curtis Huppe to score.

There was again no goal when Michael Wales was penalised for hooking early in the third session. Having survived the penalty Lightning added a fifth goal through Adam Carr at 45mins 33secs – Gary Clarke and Wales getting the assists.

Two quick goals from Phoenix, both Tony Hand assisted Marcus Kristofferson goals at 46mins 30secs and 47mins 40secs gave the visitors a glimmer of hope.

However they could get no closer and a Lukas Zatopek rocket shot which looked like it was going to break the back of the net finished them off for a 6-3 win at 58mins 54secs.


MKL Goals

19.15 Smulter, Emersic, Brittle E
22.54 Emersic, Smulter, Christie E
30.36 Emersic E
33.56 Smulter, Emersic E
45.23 Carr, Clarke, Wales E
58.56 Zatopek E

Manchester Goals

38.42 Huppe, Hand, Gomeniuk E
48.30 Kristofferson, Hand, Morgan E
57.40 Kristofferson, Hand, Gomeniuk E

MKL Penalties

1.11 Jamieson, 2 mins, tripping
12.52 Wales, 2 mins, slashing
31.07 Poole, 2 mins, tripping
40.22 Wales, 2 mins, hooking

Manchester Peanlties

36.04 Harabin, 2 mins, holding
49.71 Wood, 2 mins, hooking

Shots on Goal

MKL – Hollyhead – 10, 16, 9 =  35
Manchester – Fone - 14, 12, 11

Referee – Matt Thompson
Linesmen – Nathan Carmichael, Rob Adams