MATCH REPORT: A three-year, 20-game winning streak continues

The city men emerged from Bracknell with a 5-4 success despite conceding four times in little more than six minutes late on.

It meant the final outcome was all too close for comfort and didn’t reflect the dominance of Slava Koulikov’s side, who had controlled the vast majority of a game which ended in a 20th successive victory over the struggling Bees.

But Koulikov’s decision to rest star netminder Janis Auzins with his side holding a 5-1 lead almost backfired as replacement Adam Long was beaten by three of the four shots he faced.

“The game was done and dusted,” said Koulikov. “We put in a really controlled performance and that was reflected by the scoreline after 50 minutes.

“But then a couple of bounces went against us and they have Bracknell a big lift.

“I always felt we were in control of the game even though it is only natural to have a few bad thoughts in your head when seeing a lead be reduced so quickly.

“I tried to give the younger guys more ice time as we had produced such a controlled performance, but the main thing is we saw out the game and picked up the win we went there to get.”

Phantoms’ defenceman Scott Robson made the only breakthrough of the opening period with his first goal of the season.

The visitors took command in the middle session with three further goals as Darius Pliskauskas’ powerplay effort was followed by strikes from Owen Griffiths and Martins Susters.

And when Ales Padelek made the most of another numerical advantage with little more than 10 minutes remaining, a smooth success appeared to be in the bag.

But Bracknell clearly hadn’t read the script as they dramatically clawed their way back into contention.

Carl Thompson opened the hosts’ account on a powerplay to end Auzins’ hopes of a shut-out and the Latvian netminder was soon given the remainder of the night off.

Long was beaten by Bees’ player-coach Lukas Smital just 26 seconds after stepping into the crease and then conceded twice in the space of 52 seconds to Rio Grinell-Parke and Smital again.

Phantoms suddenly found themselves holding on to the narrowest of advantages, so were mightily relieved when Bracknell man Scott Spearing collected a roughing penalty seconds later.

But Will Weldon was then called for a high-stick with 61 seconds to go and that gave Bees the opportunity to pull netminder Alex Mettam.

However, Phantoms stood strong to extend a winning run against Bracknell which stretches back more than three years.

And they’re out to complete a four-point weekend when entertaining bottom side Manchester tonight (November 27, 5.30pm).

MATCH DETAILS

Goals

BRACKNELL

51:30 Thompson (PP) ass: Basic/Gaborcik

53:08 Smital ass: Barker/Thompson

56:43 Grinell-Parke ass: Pavlicek/Spearing

57:35 Smital ass: Barker/Thompson

PHANTOMS

11:54 Robson ass: Darge/Griffiths

22:10 Pliskauskas (PP) ass: Darge/Weldon

29:22 Griffiths ass: Archer

33:00 Susters ass: Norton/Padelek

49:25 Padelek (PP) ass: Stepanek/Russell

Men-of-the-match

BRACKNELL – Lukas Smital

PHANTOMS – Martins Susters