Peterborough Phantoms’ Cup Final hopes were dashed pretty quickly in Telford

The city team were beaten 8-3 by table-topping Telford in the second leg of their showpiece clash with the Shropshire side triumphing 14-7 on aggregate.

The Tigers were victorious 6-4 at Planet Ice in the opening leg last Friday (March 6) but Phantoms still had hopes of producing a turnaround to follow up last season’s honours treble with more silverware.

But that intention was reduced to dust as they were blown away by a terrific start from Telford who found the net three times in the opening seven minutes.

Brandon Whistle provided the breakthrough after only 87 seconds and then doubled the hosts’ advantage with a short-handed strike. A powerplay goal from Rick Plant soon followed as Phantoms were left shell-shocked.

They hit back through import Petr Stepanek but then gifted the Tigers another short-handed strike which was gratefully put away by captain Jason Silverthorn.

Despite having the silverware sewn up, Telford didn’t take their feet off the gas.

Ross Kennedy added their fifth goal in the second period before Whistle finished on the powerplay just after the mid-point of the contest to complete his hat-trick.

Ales Padelek claimed a goal back for Phantoms before Joe Aston continued the Telford onslaught and both sides then found the net once more in the final period.

Scott McKenzie completed the bumper Tigers haul before player-coach Tom Norton replied for Phantoms by rounding Tigers netminder Brad Day and tapping into the empty net.

Phantoms now turn their attention back to the NIHL National Division with a tough weekend ahead.

Slava Koulikov’s third-placed men travel to face a Basingstoke outfit directly below them in the standings on Saturday (March 14, 6.30pm) before welcoming Swindon, who sit above them in the table, to Planet Ice on Sunday (March 15, 5.30pm).

MATCH DETAILS

Goals

TELFORD

1.27 Whistle ass: McKenzie

5.30 Whistle (SHG) unassisted

6.39 Plant (PP) ass: McKenzie/Weaver

17.06 Silverthorn (SHG) unassisted

27.01 Kennedy ass: Watkins/Howells

31.24 Whistle (PP) ass: Weaver

39.48 Aston ass: Whistle/Plant

44.32 McKenzie as: Plant/Whistle

PHANTOMS

8.28 Stepanek ass: Susters

35.59 Padelek ass: Billing

51.28 Norton ass: J. Ferrara/Billing

Men-of-the-match

TELFORD – Brandon Whistle

PHANTOMS – Ales Padelek