AFTER finding themselves outclassed against the Nottingham Panthers in midweek, it was Phantoms' turn to play the bully boys as they smashed 13 goals past the Chelmsford Chieftains in Saturday night's friendly at Peterborough Arena.

After a somewhat predictable 5-0 reverse against the Elite League giants, Colin Patterson's side bounced back to produce a performance full of promise against the hapless Essex boys as the build-up to an expected assault on the English Premier League suddenly gathered pace.

Plenty of eye-catching, attacking play and an ever-increasing coherece at the back not only gave the new coach his first taste of success on these shores but also gave the precocious quartet of Callum Fowler, Thomas Jeffrey, Grant Bignell and Dale Jowett the chance to shine.

Phantoms built on the positives there were from Wednesday night against the Panthers to blow their guests to pieces with Craig Peacock and Nathan Rempel both smashing hat-tricks.

"I think our policy of continuity could prove important when the season starts as it is clear to me this is a group of players who already understand a lot about each others' games," said Patterson.

"Of course if we need to make changes we will but at this stage I am very happy with what I have here at Phantoms. We have brought in four new youngsters and I wanted to give them all a good run-out tonight which I think went well.

"We mixed things up a bit so we could look at a few combinations ahead of the season and we still got a good result. Our attacking play was incisive and while there are still areas we need to improve - particularly in defence - I am sure this team can be successful.

"Last season the club did well and it is my intention to keep that going if I can. We have games coming up against Swindon and Milton Keynes before the season starts and by then I expect us to be ready to roll.

"We expected to beat Chelmsford as they were missing a few players but it was an encouraging result despite it being against a team who are not what they were last season."

You can say that again.

Having dropped out of the EPL, the Chieftains have been shorn of their foreign and best British talent which left a young-looking group of players bravely attempting to stem the blue and white tide flowing towards their goal.

In the end their efforts lasted all of a minute when Joe Miller opened his account and before the period was out Phantoms were six up and cruising thanks to first of the season efforts for Craig Peacock (2), Andy Munroe, Rempel and Maris Ziedins.

Patterson then mixed things up a little which took away some of the home side's momentum in the second period but that didn't stop Peacock completing his hat-trick before man-of-the-match Miller grabbed his second of the night with an equisite solo effort.

Jaroslav Paulus did sneak one back early in the final phase but this lone act of definance was swiftly buried without trace in another avalanche of goals as Rempel completed his own treble before James Hutchinson and Ziedins struck leaving fans' favourite Dwayne Newman to complete the rout with a long range howitzer.


SCORING

PHANTOMS

Time Scorer Assisr

1:03 J. Miller J. Hutchinson
1:49 C. Peacock -
2:39 C. Peacock -
8:39 A. Munroe C. Fowler.
10:41 N. Rempel M. Ziedins.
16:19 M. Ziedins -
22:33 C. Peacock B. Gough.
37:28 J. Miller -
44:48 N. Rempel C. Peacock.
48:27 N. Rempel C. Peacock.
48:40 J. Hutchinson N. Rempel.
56:51 M. Ziedins J. Morgan.
57:15 D. Newman J. Miller.

Man-of-the-match - Joe Miller
Shots - 59.

CHIEFTAINS

44:00 J. Paulus -

Man-of-the-match - Jaroslav Paulus.
Shots - 20.



PHANTOMS cruised to their second win of the weekend against Chelmsford Chieftains in Essex last night.

After destroying the Chieftains at the Peterborough Arena on Saturday, Colin Patterson's side simply picked up where they left off by racking up an 8-1 win down south with Brent Gough firing home his first goal of the season.

Gough finished with two goals and also on target were Nathan Rempel (3), Maris Ziedins, Lewis Buckman and Dwayne Newman.