Nathan Salem scored twice and picked up the man of the match award as the WALDECK Peterborough Phantoms defeated the Swindon Wildcats on Sunday night.
Phantoms were put straight on the back foot when Luke Ferrara was assessed a five minute boarding penalty in the second minute of the game.
The period was lacking in many high quality scoring chances until Brad Bowering was assessed a high sticking penalty and Jake Bricknell smashed in a second Swindon goal.
The second period was a much livelier affair, littered with penalties and goals alike as both sides pushed for the points.
Phantoms pulled a goal back just a minute and 20 seconds into the second frame when Cam Hough popped up on the back door to score on the rebound after Ferrara’s initial effort was saved.
And the same player almost brought Phantoms level moments later, but this time saw his effort kicked away by Wildcats’ goalie, Renny Marr.
The leveler came on 28:27 when Brad Bowering got a tip on Tom Norton’s blue line effort to send the game into its second half, all square.
It was quickly becoming a strong period from Slava’s side and their turnaround was complete on 30:23 when Salem ripped an effort into the far corner from out in front of goal.
The penalties continued to flow and so did the goals, but this time it was in favour of the visitors. With Joe Gretton sitting a cross checking minor, Balint Pakozdi found space in the offensive zone to rip an effort bar down past Hayden Lavigne.
Phantoms kept pushing and almost got back in front when Ferrara gained the zone at speed, but saw his effort well held by Marr.
Then up stepped the star of the show as Salem ripped home his second of the night, capitalising on a big rebound after Tom Norton had seen an effort saved.
The third period saw a return to a much cagier game, with both sides tightening up to ensure they didn’t lose their foot hold in the game.
Hough saw two efforts saved by Marr early in the frame as a slap shot and a breakaway were turned away, before Lavigne came up big to deny Nell’s slap shot from the right circle.
Swindon pulled the goalie in the closing stages but Phantoms stood firm to claim both points on home ice against an in form Wildcats side.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 4-3 Swindon Wildcats
Phantoms goals:
21:20 (PP 1-2 SW): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
28:27 (PP 2-2 SW): #23 Brad Bowering / #2 Tom Norton / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
30:23 (PP 3-2 SW): #91 Nathan Salem / #19 Luke Ferrara / #2 Tom Norton (PPG)
35:13 (PP 4-3 SW): #91 Nathan Salem / #2 Tom Norton / #29 Cam Hough (PPG)
Wildcats goals:
5:46 (PP 0-1 SW): #72 Glenn Billing / #26 Jack Bricknell / #11 Chris Jones (PPG)
19:46 (PP 0-2 SW): #26 Jake Bricknell / #12 Ryan Wells / #19 Aaron Nell (PPG)
32:21 (PP 3-3 SW): #3 Balint Pakozdi / #16 Reed Sayers / #73 Ed Bradley (PPG)
Phantoms man of the match: #91 Nathan Salem
Wildcats man of the match: #72 Glenn Billing