Peterborough Phantoms are behind in the cup final, but they still have hope

James Ferrara scores for Phantoms against Telford in the National Cup Final. Photo: Tom Scott.

The city men were beaten 6-4 by Telford at a packed Planet Ice last night (March 6) to leave the Tigers firmly in the driving seat.

It was a frantic game which ultimately went the way of the formbook with the table-topping visitors following up their clean sweep of NIHL National Division wins against Phantoms with another success.

Koulikov’s men were probably kicking themselves for not being further ahead following a largely dominant opening session before seeing a slender lead turn into a deficit during a difficult second period.

Phantoms' Will Weldon (white) and Telford's Jack Watkins had a disagreement in the closing stages of the cup final first leg. Photo: Tom Scott.

They did claw their way level early in the final session, but it was Telford who went on to assert again and head back home with a two-goal cushion.

“It was a really good game with both teams laying it all on the line,” said Koulikov.

“We obviously didn’t want to come out of the first leg behind, but that is the situation we’re in.

“It was a pretty even game five-on-five, but the special teams were the difference with Telford scoring twice on the powerplay and also getting a short-handed goal.

Joe Hazeldine of Phantoms (white) controls the puck away from Telford's Jason Silverthorn. Photo: Tom Scott.

“It’s all about small margins in big games and they went Telford’s way in this one, but the trophy is still up for grabs.

“We have to go to Telford to turn it around. We know it will be hard, but we can do it.”

Phantoms began explosively with captain James Ferrara seeing a glorious chance saved inside 20 seconds, but they didn’t have to wait too long for an opener as import Ales Padelek squeezed the puck home on the wraparound.

Their advantage was wiped out by Adam Taylor before Ferrara restored the lead with a powerplay blast through the traffic late in the opening session.

The middle stanza belonged to Telford, though, as impressive import Dominik Florian raced in short-handed to level before Jack Watkins wrapped in another goal to give the visitors the lead for the first time.

Phantoms needed an early response in the final session and defenceman Callum Buglass ghosted into the back post to provide it when putting away a Martins Susters pass which was helped into his path by Conor Pollard.

But their momentum was lost when Telford struck twice in the space of 51 seconds as Jonathan Weaver’s powerplay effort was quickly followed by Taylor’s second of the night after a breakaway.

Phantoms halved their arrears within a minute when Corey McEwen found the twine after Petr Stepanek outmuscled the Tigers rearguard, but the latter player undid his good work by collecting a roughing penalty in the aftermath of the goal.

The city men attempted to level to no avail and they were left with a mountain to climb when Weaver made the most of another Telford numerical advantage.

Phantoms now shift their attention back to securing a top-three finish in the NIHL National Division this weekend.

A hectic schedule continues with a home clash against Hull tonight (March 7, 7pm) ahead of a trip to Raiders tomorrow (March 8, 5.15pm).

MATCH DETAILS

Goals

PHANTOMS

5.08 Padelek ass: J. Ferrara/Billing

17.24 J. Ferrara (PP) ass: Weldon/Norton

41.46 Buglass ass: Susters/C. Pollard

46.40 McEwen ass: Stepanek

TELFORD

13.01 Taylor ass: Florian

26.59 Florian (SH) unassisted

31.28 Watkins ass: Howells

44.52 Weaver (PP) ass: Whistle/Silverthorn

45.43 Taylor ass: Howells

54.36 Weaver (PP) ass: Whistle

Men-of-the-match

PHANTOMS – Tom Norton

TELFORD – Ollie Lord