MATCH REPORT | More stripes for the Tigers after Phantom defeat

The WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms had a midweek game in Telford against the Tigers, where they hoped to win and move positions in the league table.

Very early on in the game, the Phantoms faced multiple setbacks as Tom Norton, Nathan Salem and Brad Bowering sat for penalties in the first six minutes.It was during these penalties that Finely Howells and Scott McKenzie managed to score two goals for the Tigers.

Once back to full strength, the Phantoms battled hard to keep the Tigers out of their zone and to fire shots at goalie Brad Day. With Brad Bowering diving to block another Howells shot and Cam Hough retaliating back at Day.

The Phantoms were able to get their first goal in the game at 16:14 which was shortly after Danny Rose rang the back of Hayden Lavigne’s net. Now with a win behind them, the Phantoms seemed to skate with a new confidence and more prepared for the Tigers’ games.

Still riding the high of their first goal, Phantoms Callum Buglass and Luke Ferrara wound their sticks up at Day, with these shots being unsuccessful, Austin Mitchell-King tricks Day into thinking he’s saved his shot, as it slides in the net behind him, securing another goal for the Phantoms.

The Tigers fought back and scored two quick goals by Scott McKenzie and David Thomson. After Louie Newell was handed a penalty for hooking, Nathan Salem, Callum Buglass and Duncan Speirs made toys of the Tigers as they passed the puck between each other, shots were fired but none rang the light. This didn’t deter Cam Hough who drew the Tigers in front of Day’s net, allowing the puck to leave the traffic and find Luke Ferrara, who shot too close to Day’s padding.

Within the first five minutes of the third period, Luke Ferrara added another goal to the scoreboard. Following this goal, both Deakan Fielder and Austin Mitchell-King spent time in the penalty box.

Whilst both teams remained a player down, Luke Ferrara found time to defend Cam Hough after being knocked down by Danny Rose, it was Jake Price who stepped up to Ferrara, and this led to both Ferrara and Price sitting two minutes for roughing.

Regardless of being knocked down less than a minute earlier, Cam Hough stood on his head and scored the fourth goal for the Phantoms. With the scoreboard at 5-4, the Tigers became desperate to secure their win, the Tigers wound up their sticks at Lavigne, but Lavigne stood strong and denied the Tigers of their wishes.

With everything to play for, the Phantoms found a new level in their game, as they pushed through the Tigers to take shots at Day. It was Head Coach Slava Koulikov who found a new strategy to win the game, the Phantoms called a time-out and entered the game with an empty net and six skaters in the last three minutes of the game

The Phantoms didn’t allow the Tigers near the puck as they held possession and suffocated the Tigers in their zone. Within the last 30 seconds of the game, Luke Ferrara was left isolated on the ice holding his shoulder in pain as the play continued. As the clock ran down, Phantoms Janne Laakkonen was handed a ten-minute penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct after smashing his stick in frustration..

Final Score: Telford Tigers 5-4 Peterborough Phantoms