The WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms defeated the Bristol Pitbulls on Sunday night, completing an impressive four point weekend.
Phantoms went into their clash with the Pitbulls in full confidence, having beaten Milton Keynes Lightning in overtime on Saturday night. But they knew it would be no easy task, with the Pitbulls having enjoyed some last minute drama as they claimed 2-1 win over the Solway Sharks.
Phantoms started strongly and took the lead with just 1:36 played when Callum Buglass cut through the left circle and found the onrushing Billy Thorpe ghosting in on the back post, allowing the Phantoms’ #25 to place a good finish beyond Tommy Nappier in the Bristol net.
They continued to assert their dominance on the game and almost doubled their advantage when Tom Norton and Cam Hough were sent on the breakaway with stretch passes, but both shots went wide.
But Hough didn’t let that get him down and he did score seconds later, capitalising on good work by Luke Ferrara to put Phantoms two ahead.
And when Bayley Harewood took a boarding penalty for a poor hit on 9:18, Phantoms extended their lead to three. This time, good work by Norton and Janne Laakkonen saw the puck fall nicely for Ferrara to rip home from out in front of net.
But Bristol hit back on 15:39 as Harewood pulled a smart move in front of Hayden Lavigne and finished well.
Phantoms regained their three goal lead in the final minute of the first period when Austin Mitchell-King finished well from in close after good work by Nathan Salem and Scott Robson.
And Slava’s side picked up the same scoring form at the start of the second as Hough picked up his second of the night, winning a battle out in front to prod beyond Nappier, with just two seconds left on the powerplay.
The Pitbulls began their fightback on 49:46 when Cam Hamill tapped home from in the blue paint after Lavigne had pulled off a great stop to deny Harewood’s initial effort.
They got back within two with just over four minutes to play when Harewood muscled in and applied another tidy finish for his second of the night.
And all of a sudden, it was a one goal game once again when Mason Lipsey’s powerplay effort took a huge deflection off a stick and looped into the net.
Bristol pulled the goalie in favour of the extra skater in the closing moments and Phantoms took their chance as our ever dependable captain, Ferrara, raced onto a loose puck and finished well into the empty cage from a tight angle.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 6-4 Bristol Pitbulls
Phantoms goals:
1:36 (PP 1-0 BP): #25 Billy Thorpe / #45 Callum Buglass / #96 Jarvis Hunt (EHG)
4:49 (PP 2-0 BP): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
10:02 (PP 3-0 BP): #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #2 Tom Norton (PPG)
19:25 (PP 4-1 BP): #24 Austin Mitchell-King / #11 Scott Robson / #91 Nathan Salem (EHG)
32:53 (PP 5-1 BP): #29 Cam Hough / #96 Jarvis Hunt / #19 Luke Ferrara (PPG)
58:55 (PP 6-4 BP): #19 Luke Ferrara / #29 Cam Hough / #2 Tom Norton (ENG)
Pitbulls goals:
15:39 (PP 3-1 BP): #77 Bayley Harewood / #52 Nick Pryce / #9 Bari McKenzie (EHG)
49:46 (PP 5-2 BP): #7 Cam Hamill / #77 Bayley Harewood / #6 Rhys Smetham (EHG)
55:46 (PP 5-3 BP): #77 Bayley Harewood / #24 Tanner Butler (EHG)
57:21 (PP 5-4 BP): #91 Mason Lipsey / #24 Tanner Butler / #52 Nick Pryce (PPG)
Phantoms man of the match: #19 Luke Ferrara
Pitbulls man of the match: #77 Bayley Harewood