THE return of top scorer Colin Shields revitalised the Vipers who gained revenge for December’s embarrassing 2-6 home loss against the Phoenix. For entertainment value the first period was one of the best seen at the Metro Radio Arena this season as it featured three goals and an equal number of fights. The first shot on goal opened the scoring with the Phoenix’s leading marksman Joe Tallari firing over goalie Ryan MacDonald’s left shoulder on 25 seconds. Fifteen seconds later Vipers enforcer Andre Payette fought for the second time this season with Phoenix hard man Brett Clouthier. The gloves were off again when Vipers defenceman Jez Lundin came to blows with Tallari, and the Viper was to fight again after standing up for himself when Luke Stauffacher thumped him on the back of head. The Vipers levelled on seven minutes. Defenceman Mark Gouett’s shot flew wide, rebounded off the backboards to the edge of the crease when Shaun Johnson shot home. On 11 minutes the Vipers went ahead and it was their captain David Longstaff who was at the centre of the celebration. Derek Campbell attacked the heart of the Phoenix defence, lost control of the puck but it didn’t matter as Longstaff was following up to strike the puck low and hard into the net. Two minutes into the second period the Vipers lead increased when Campbell’s instant shot sailed over Scott Fankhouser’s left shoulder, but the Phoenix responded very quickly on a powerplay, Clouthier lifting the puck over MacDonald from the edge of the crease. Fankhouser was beaten over his other shoulder by a fine diagonal shot released by the impressive Ben Campbell five minutes into the final period. The Vipers looked in control but the Phoenix were again to hit back in under two minutes, this time scoring while the Vipers were operating a powerplay. Released down the middle, Stauffacher only had MacDonald to beat and he did by placing the puck through MacDonald’s legs. The Vipers will be aiming to make it a two-win weekend when they entertain the Basingstoke Bison tonight at home. Face-off is at 5.30pm. NEWCASTLE VIPERS: D Campbell, Johnson and Longstaff 1+1, B Campbell 1+0, Gouett, Holland, Lundin, Rublivsky and Shields 0+1. MANCHESTER PHOENIX: Stuffacher 1+1, Clouthier and Tallari 1+0, Basiuk 0+2, Hand and Fankhouser 0+1. | 
