MATCH REPORT: Phantoms in top spot after thumping Thunder

Peterborough Phantoms wrote a successful opening chapter in their new local rivalry to coninue a perfect start to the National ice Hockey League (NIHL) Division One South season last night (September 24).
Scott Robson scored twice for Phantoms.Scott Robson scored twice for Phantoms.
Scott Robson scored twice for Phantoms.

The city side recorded a third successive victory in the sport’s new second tier when they triumphed 5-2 at Milton Keynes Thunder.

Table-topping Phantoms did briefly trail in the second period before a burst of four goals in eight minutes fired them to their latest success.

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They hit the front through a second goal in as many days from James White, but Gareth O’Flaherty had the hosts on level terms before the end of the opening period.

Phantoms then fell behind to a powerplay strike from the same player after collecting a bench penalty for having too many men on the ice.

But they weren’t in arrears for long as they produced a game-changing scoring salvo.

Defenceman Scott Robson, who has never managed more than three goals in a season for Phantoms, struck twice in the space of six-and-a-half minutes with those efforts sandwiching a Will Weldon goal.

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And when import Ales Padelek joined the party 81 seconds into the final session, a first four-point weekend of the campaign was in the bag.

The city team sit two points clear at the summit of the early-season standings and should be able to strengthen their position when facing bottom side Cardiff Fire in back-to-back clashes next weekend.

They entertain the promoted side, who have lost all four of their games so far, at Planet Ice on Saturday (September 30) ahead of a return clash at the Ice Arena Wales the following night, October 1.

MATCH DETAILS

Goals

MK Thunder

18:28 O’Flaherty ass: McPherson/Carlon

27:07 O’Flaherty (PP) ass: Mboya

Phantoms

7:40 White ass: Billing

33:28 Robson ass: Padelek/Weldon

35:07 Weldon ass: Padelek/Norton

39:52 Robson ass: Jamieson/Weldon

41:21 Padelek ass: Norton

Men-of-the-match

MK Thunder – Gareth O’Flaherty

Phantoms – Will Weldon

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