Peterborough Phantoms in great shape for the business end of the season and cup final dates are announced

Weldon was among the scorers as the city men stretched their super winning streak to nine games with a 6-1 rout of struggling Raiders at Planet Ice last Sunday (February 16).

Seven of those successes have arrived in the league and have seen Slava Koulikov’s men close to within seven points of shaken table-toppers Telford.

But, despite being in buoyant mood and finally boasting a full roster of players, Weldon admits the prospect of a late title challenge has not even been mentioned inside the walls of the Phantoms’ locker room.

Weldon said: “At this stage of the season it is all about picking up victories. It’s something we’ve done well lately and we managed to get the two points again on Sunday.

“We certainly aren’t out of the title race, but we’re outsiders for sure as it would take a huge swing from here for us to finish top.

“All we can do is keep winning games and hopefully put pressure on the two teams above us.

“It might sound like a boring cliché, but we never look beyond the next game. That is the approach which has helped us to pick up nine wins in a row and the next challenge is to try to make it 10.

“A lack of consistency cost us early in the season - you could say we were consistently inconsistent in all honesty – but we have definitely found it in the last month or so.

“We’ve played some big games during this stretch with the two legs of the cup semi-final being prime examples of that.

“We’re in good form, we have a full roster of players and we’re in a rhythm of picking up important results.

“That’s a great position to be in for the business end of the season so bring it on, but I can promise you winning the title is not something that has even been talked about in the room.”

One thing Phantoms will believe they can win is the NIHL National Cup after spectacularly booking their place in the final recently.

They saw off Hull 12-8 on aggregate to set-up a showpiece clash with Telford and the dates have now been confirmed.

Phantoms entertain the Tigers in the first leg at Planet Ice on Friday, March 6 ahead of a return date in Shropshire the following Wednesday (March 11).

“We’re excited to have the dates for the cup final and determined to pick up the first piece of silverware of this season,” added Weldon.

“We had a big crowd in for the second leg of the semi-final and the fans created a brilliant atmosphere.

“It was the loudest the rink has been in a few years and hopefully the same will happen for another Friday-night game in the final.

“It’s a different dynamic with the first leg being at home and it’s important we make the most of that to go to Telford for the second leg in a good position.”