With nearest rivals MK Lightning taking Slough Jets apart just up the road it was vital the city side maintained their momentum at the top and came home from The Hive with the points in the honey-pot.

Last time they were in town on league duty Phantoms were beaten by the reigning EPL Cup holders, but in current form there never looked like being a repeat as Colin Patterson's side neatly turned the tables to chalk up a 4-1 win.

It was their eighth maximum in succession and an 18th road success of the season - form which now leaves Phantoms just two more wins from glory.

Patterson said: "I have been very pleased with our form on the road this season, it has been key to our success so far.

"We played extremely well, we got up early and then shut them down and took our chances well. It was always going to be a tough game and the pressure was on but we dealt with it all and got the result we came for.

"It is important we kept the momentum going. At the moment it's just one game at a time, we have a five-point lead but we cannot afford to slip up."

Ice hockey special report:
Peterborough Phantoms: 2009 treble winners
James Westgate relives the Phantoms' all-conquering 2009 season.
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Having arrived with a plan to get shots down on Bracknell netminder Gregg Rockman early, Phantoms stuck to their guns and took the lead on 10 minutes when Craig Peacock rifled home from the blue line.

Early in the middle act Maris Ziedins doubled the advantage when slotting the puck under Rockman after good work from Nathan Rempel and Dwayne Newman.

Two minutes later Bees scored their only goal when Joe Baird beat Stephen Wall on the powerplay but Peacock restored Phantoms two-goal cushion shortly afterwards with his second of the night.

And to finish things off, Nathan Rempel - the EPL top scorer - underlined his side's dominance by rattling home Phantoms' fourth seven minutes from time.