Slava Koulikov scores against Peterborough

Tony Hand wants his team to put their injury nightmare behind them after a 4-1 victory over Peterborough Phantoms in Altrincham on Sunday.

The Phoenix player coach watched on from the bench as Phoenix avenged Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to the Phantoms in Peterborough.

After taking a puck to the ankle against Telford Tigers last weekend Hand sat out both games this weekend along with long-term injured Jaroslav Spelda and Stephen Wallace.

Hand said: “It’s tough right now, having so many injured. It’s a different way of coaching the team, but to be honest I’m sick of talking about injuries and hard luck stories.

“I want us to put them to bed, and hopefully next weekend we’ll have Spelda and myself back, so we’ll be a bit stronger and hopefully can start to climb the table.

Tom Duggan and Juraj Faith had their work cut out at centre in the absence Hand but the player-coach was pleased with what he saw.

“Tom and Juraj did a great job but hopefully next weekend with a few more back we’ll be in a better position.

“I think tonight we got the goals at the right time. We took our chances and played a tighter game. At 4-0 I’d have liked Steven to get his shutout, and maybe last night they got a bit of luck, but I think the guys did well tonight.”

Steve Fone keeps the Phantoms at bay

James Archer opened the scoring for Phoenix after five minutes, before Slava Koulikov doubled the lead going into the second.

Martin Cingel netted a third for Phoenix and Duggan added a fourth in the second period.

Peterborough pulled a goal back with five minutes remaining in the third period through Luke Ferrara.

Pictures: Nick Ogden