Tom Duggan comes up against the Slough defence

Phoenix stay joint top of the English Premier League despite picking up just one point at the weekend.

Tony Hand’s men lost in overtime at home to Slough Jets in their only game but the result was shrouded in controversy.

Phoenix were forced to go into sudden-death overtime after referee Steve Wardell called a soft penalty on Phoenix winger Juraj Faith.

To make such a call early in the game would have been harsh but to to it with seconds remaining in a tied game was considered criminal by most of the Altrincham crowd.

A one man advantage in what should have been four-on-four overtime virtually handed the game to Slough and Dan Davies duly came up with the winner for the visitors 50 seconds in.

Hand was clearly irritated by the decision but refused to use it as an excuse, congratulating the Jets on their performance.

“It was a great game for the fans but when it gets down to overtime anything can happen,” he said.

“We had more shots than them and Martin Cingel hit the post with four minutes left.

“With a little bit of luck we would have won but we will just have to settle for the one point and prepare ourselves for next week.

“Slough are a good team and played well. It would have been nice to get the win but it was not to be.”

Phoenix raced to a two goal lead with James Neil opening the scoring seven minutes in followed by Faith four minutes later on a powerplay.

But they paid the price for turning over possession conceding two goals in a minute from Davies and Ryan Watt.

The game stayed at two-apiece all through the second but Slough took the lead for the first time early in the final period through Darius Pliskauskas.

Phoenix responded to the challenge with a shorthanded goal as Cingel picked out Slava Koulikov who duly levelled the scores.

Neither team could find in a game winner in regulation, but a tripping call on Faith moments before the end of the third period, meant Phoenix went to overtime a man down.

Slough capitalised and Davies found the game winner on the powerplay 50 seconds later.