Derby day win for Peterborough Phantoms who move up to third
The city men saw off struggling rivals Milton Keynes Lightning 4-2 following a hard-hitting clash in Buckinghamshire.
Neither side could manage a breakthrough in an end-to-end opening period, but Phantoms soon took control in the second session.
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Hide AdLeading scorer Petr Stepanek unleashed an unstoppable shot past netminder Dean Skinns to break the deadlock in the opening minute of the stanza before captain James Ferrara rifled in a second goal.
And when Stepanek struck again on a powerplay in the final period the points looked to be in the bag, but the lowly Lightning weren’t about to wave the white flag.
Import Ari Narhi launched a late fightback which gathered momentum when Grant McPherson also struck.
But Lightning then conceded a penalty which allowed Phantoms to re-assert in the dying moments as Martins Susters struck a clincher.
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Hide AdThe victory lifted Phantoms into third place in the NIHL National Division standings ahead of a home clash against Sheffield tonight (November 24, 5.30pm).
The city club’s away clash against bottom side Leeds Chiefs on Saturday, December 7 will now take place in Bretton.
The construction of the Chiefs’ rink has fallen several months behind schedule.
MATCH DETAILS
Goals
MILTON KEYNES
53.37 Narhi ass: Griffin
57.45 McPherson ass: Griffin
PHANTOMS
20.53 Stepanek unassisted
32.37 J. Ferrara ass: Padelek
46.52 Stepanek (PP) ass: C. Pollard/Buglass
59.28 Susters (PP) ass: McEwen/Stepanek
Men-of-the-match
MILTON KEYNES – Rio Grinnell-Parke
PHANTOMS – Jordan Marr