A superb Lightning performance dealt reigning league champions Manchester Phoenix a blow at the Thunderdome with a well deserved 5-2 victory.

Lightning clicked from the start of the game and they took the lead after just 2mins 38secs when Leigh Jamieson went up the left and crossed to the unmarked Adam Carr in the centre. He unleashed fine shot past goalie Stephen Fone.

Phoenix were caught wanting again on 8mins 42sec when Blaz Emersic sped up the right hand side and crossed with Juraj Gracik looking likely to take the puck – instead it was Lukas Zatopek who claimed it and smashed it topshelf past Fone.
As Phoenix tried to find their rhythm Lightning goalie Alex Mettam made two fine saves from Ladislav Harabin and Ben Wood.

Going into the second session with a 2-0 lead the hosts could have added to the total when Matt Towalski had the netminder beaten but then allowed him too much time to recover before shooting.

Lightning did though go 3-0 in front with an Emersic goal assisted by Adam Brittle and Gracik on 28mins 38secs.

That sparked some frustration from Manchester who saw three players sent to the penalty box in quick succession – not least of all coach, Tony Hand, who received a 10 minute misconduct call.

Tom Duggan finally got the visitors off the mark after 35mins 16secs but Lightning struck back swiftly with Zatopek’s rocket shot from the neutral zone catching out Fone after 37mins 53secs.

Manchester were awarded a penalty shot when Grant McPherson hauled down Wood en route to goal – Wood converting although Mettam looked unlucky not to have stopped the effort on 46mins 53secs.

Lightning had the last say though when Jamieson shot from distance, the goalie only parrying the puck as far as Carr who finished off to make it 5-2 at 52mins 53secs for the perfect end to the night.

MKL Goals

2.38 Carr, Jamieson, Poole E
8.42 Zatopek, Emersic, Gracik E
28.38 Emersic, Brittle, Gracik E
37.53 Zatopek, Bowers, Line E
52.53 Carr, Jamieson, Poole E

Manchester Goals

35.16 Duggan, Wallace, Neil E
46.53 Wood PS

MKL Penalties

5.25 Poole, 2 mins,  elbows
19.33 Christie, 2 mins, cross checking
24.29 Norton, 2 mins, interference
31.53 Gracik, 2 mins, holding

Manchester Penalties

12.34 Harrabin, 2 mins, delaying the game
19.33  Koulikov, 2 mins, cross checking
29.30 Wood, 2 mins, holding
31.10 Hand, 10 mins,  misconduct
31.16 Cingel, 2 mins, hooking

Shots on Goal

MKL- Mettam – 10, 8, 3 = 21

Manchester – Fone 11, 14, 9 = 34

Referee – Blaine Evans
Linesmen – Paul Brooks, Kevin Biggs

MOM

MKL – Zatopek
Manchester - Duggan

Sheffield v MKL 2.10.11