Manchester Phoenix continued their impressive start to the season, beating Swindon 7-3 to move top of the EPL.

Phoenix led 6-1 at the first interval but Swindon hit back with two quick second-period goals.

Manchester player-coach Tony Hand, who scored the only goal of the third session, said: "We came out like a train in the first period."

Swindon coach Ryan Aldridge added: "We can take many positives out of the last two periods."

Pavel Gomenyuk, Curtis Huppe, James Archer, Greg Wood, Ben Wood and Marcus Kristoffersson scored Manchester's first-period goals, with Ryan Watt the only man on target for the visitors.

Jozef Kohut and Watt scored quick goals in the second period to close the gap, and Kohut missed the chance to reduce the deficit to two by missing a penalty shot.

We showed great commitment in the way we tried to dig ourselves out of the hole we dug in the first period Swindon coach Ryan Aldridge

Hand scored the only goal of the final period to secure the two points for his side.

"It was clear that we took our foot off the gas in the second period and we got punished for it," Hand added.

"But overall I'm delighted with they way we've started the season, it's early days but it's nice to be top."

Aldridge continued: "The first two goals were questionable decisions and Dougie [Chris Douglas] let a few in he would like to have back.

"We had a solid middle period with one import out, and another good period in the third with two imports out.

"Manchester is a really tough place to play and we showed great commitment in the way we tried to dig ourselves out of the hole we dug in the first period."

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