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Wightlink 6, Phantoms 10 - Phantoms' boat comes in
PHANTOMS sealed their English Premier League triumph with a kiss on Saturday night.
PHANTOMS sealed their English Premier League triumph with a kiss on Saturday night.Having stormed the Raiders Isle of Wight Fortress to secure a 10-6 result, Colin Patterson's side were heading home on the ferry when news filtered through that Guildford had beaten Milton Keynes, thus handing them the title.
Amid the euphoria, Sue Housden, wife of Phantoms co-owner Rob, understandably got a little bit carried away and decided to plant a great big smacker on Patterson as party fever gripped all aboard.
It may have been a day earlier than many expected and the team were floating somewhere in the middle of the Solent at the time, but after guiding Phantoms to a first EPL title in six years, the Canadian deserved a kiss and his players deserved their fun.
And there was plenty of both as fans and players alike partied hard, leaving regular passengers on the Seacat ferry wondering what all the fuss was about.
But had they been aware of the monumental achievement of the hockey team they were sharing a boat with then they surely would have joined in too.
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And while happily married Patterson denied all knowledge of the smooch with Mrs H, he was happy to acknowledge the scale of his team's achievement.
Patterson said: "I have been told that Sue gave me a kiss but I honestly cannot remember as we all got caught up in it when we heard the news.
"The guys let their hair down and I don't mind that as they fully deserved to enjoy the moment, even if we were all stuck on a boat.
"When I came to the club I knew I was inheriting a potentially great team and the way they have delivered over the season has been incredible.
"We have instilled a bit more discipline in the group and they have just responded by digging out result after result. They have earned this.
"And they have earned the respect of every other team in the league along the way.
"Wightlink made it hard for us and we knew they would but we just hung in there and got the job done like so many times before this season.
"This club has waited too long for another title and I am delighted to have been able to help them achieve that for themselves and of course for Phantoms' amazing fans.
"They have done it the right way and in a lot of style and I have nothing but respect for each and everyone of them. This is a great team."
Having been shocked by an early goal from Alan Green, Phantoms battled back through Craig Peacock and James Spurr to lead 2-1 after a hectic opening 10 minutes.
Adam Brittle then pulled one back for the home side but goals from Brent Gough and Maris Ziedins saw the soon-to-be champions leading 4-2 at the break.
Peacock's second of the night early into the restart then seemed to have put the game beyond their hosts, but a sudden flurry of goals from Damon Larter, Brittle and Danny Hughes saw Wightlink level things up with five minutes of the middle act to go.
Luckily Peacock is in the form of his life right now and his hat-trick goal gave the visitors some vital breathing space going into the last act.
Andy Munroe then struck early to extend the advantage but Wightlink would not lie down and Shawn Mole nabbed another to keep things tight going into the closing stages.
But it is in such moments when champions show their bottle and Phantoms have plenty of that.
Feeling the pinch, the Bretton boys simply moved up another gear and Ziedins' second of the night was swiftly followed by goals for Joe Miller and Peacock's fourth of the night.
It was the young forward's 53rd goal of what has been a superb season in every sense of the word for both him and his hometown club who will rightly celebrate their triumph for all it's worth.
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Sunday 12 February 2012
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