MATCH REPORT: Near perfection from the Phantoms

The city men triumphed 2-0 at Swindon to retain their third place in the second-tier standings.

The goals arrived just over 90 seconds before and after the first break in Wiltshire as Martins Susters provided an opener at 18:28 and Ales Padelek doubled the advantage on 21:34.

Susters’ strike was assisted by the returning Edgars Bebris, who collected the player-of-the-match gong in his first outing for Phantoms after rejoining on an 18-month deal.

The victory came complete with a 36-shot shut-out for netminder Janis Auzins, while back-up Adam Long also dealt with the one shot he faced during a brief 25-second appearance on the ice.

Keeping out the Wildcats for the full 60 minutes was a fine effort for a Phantoms side missing two of their leading defencemen in the concussed pair of Ben Russell and Scott Robson.

The clean sheet included a fine demonstration of penalty-killing late in the second period when Phantoms held firm during two minutes of five-on-three for Swindon.

Phantoms have an excellent opportunity to complete a four-point weekend when they travel to Widnes tonight (January 15, 6.30pm) to face crisis club Manchester.

The game against the rock-bottom Phoenix is still going ahead even though their owner, Neil Morris, stepped aside from the troubled outfit yesterday.

MATCH DETAILS

Goals

SWINDON

None

PHANTOMS

18:28 Susters ass: Bebris

21:34 Padelek ass: Stepanek/Norton

Men-of-the-match

SWINDON – Jan Kostal

PHANTOMS – Edgars Bebris