11:03am Friday 1st January 2010
By Nigel McFarlane
MANCHESTER Phoenix Captain Luke Boothroyd believes focus is key if they are to lift the English Premier League title.
Phoenix lie one point behind leaders Milton Keynes Lightning after losing a four point advantage with three losses in December.
But they had to do without number one netminder Stephen Fone with a shoulder injury and Robert Lachowicz, Iain Bowie, James Neil and Joe Graham who were away on GB duty in Hungary.
They aim to get their title ambitions back on track this weekend with a trip to Basingstoke on Saturday (6.30pm) and a home tie against Slough (Sunday 5.30pm), who have already beaten them three times this season.
It will be Manchester's first outing in two weeks which should mean they are at full strength for the crunch games.
"We have a good bunch of guys here who are highly skilled and young," said Boothroyd. "We have been playing well but we need to hit our form and start playing at our full potential.
"The defence has been good, but we need to improve and be stronger in front of the net. We need to tie up the opposition quicker I think – and I would include myself in that too.
"We are up there at the moment and I think we will be challenging for the all the trophies available."
Tickets for Sunday's game against Slough are available from the Silver Blades Ice Dome in Altrincham or by logging on to www.manchesterphoenix.co.uk
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/trade_directory/