Peterborough Phantoms were punished for a very slow start at the Romford Raiders
Struggling Peterborough Phantoms were crushed 8-2 by Romford Raiders in a National League fixture on Wednesday night.
The city side travelled to Essex with renewed hope after ending a six-game losing streak at home to the same opponents on Sunday.
But Romford gained revenge in style with a rampant performance that started with a goal after 15 seconds from Brandon Ayliff. The hosts were 5-0 up after nine minutes which persuaded new head coach Nathan Pollard to send back-up netminder Will Bray on to the ice.
The Raiders led 5-1 at the end of the first session after Phantoms’ man-of-the-match Dillon Lawrence netted on 13.40 following good work from Janne Laakkonen and Flynn Massie.
The home side added just one goal in the second period and it was 7-1 before AJ Herring pulled a goal back for Phantoms, assisted by Louie Kynaston and Barni Sari midway through the final stanza.
But Raiders had last word three minutes from time with a Jake Sylvester strike.
Phantoms remain next-to-bottom in the standings ahead of a trip to leaders MK Lightning on Saturday (October 31, 7pm face-off) and a home game against Telford Tigers on Sunday (5.30pm).