The Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms atoned for the errors of two weeks ago against the Leeds Knights, as they held out for victory and a four point weekend.
Both sides came into the game in a similar predicament with injuries plaguing both lineups, whilst both were also missing players due to Great Britain U18 call ups.
The Knights started the better of the two sides and took an early lead when Bailey Perre threw a puck on net, which was redirected home by Kieran Brown.
They could have doubled their lead when the puck bounced fortunately to Fin Bradon in close, but Hayden Lavigne came up with a smart stop.
And the Phantoms drew level with just over ten minutes played as Tom Norton joined the attack from an offensive face off and lifted his shot into the top corner.
Norton went close again moments later with a similarly aimed shot, but Sam Gospel was equal to this one.
Things got heated when Ralfs Circenis dropped the gloves with Oli Endicott in a fight which saw the Phantoms man win, but also be ejected from the game in bizarre circumstances.
Phantoms took the lead early in the second when Cam Hough took a pass from Janne Laakkonen and ripped it beyond Gospel.
But after further chances at both ends, it was the Knights who struck next, taking a pass in the right circle to convert beyond Lavigne for his second.
Phantoms hit back inside a minute as Dillon Lawrence gained the offensive blue line and ripped an inch perfect shot into the far top corner of the Knights’ net.
And they extended their lead to two when more good work from Lawrence saw him tee up Luke Ferrara, who snapped home into the far corner.
The Knights came out flying in the third, though, and cut Phantoms’ lead back to one with 42:13 played as Balint Pakozdi found Sam Dunn on the back door for a tidy finish.
They drew level just twelve seconds later as another play to the back post was finished off by Owen Sobchak.
But the Phantoms didn’t let it get them down and retook the lead at 48:38 when Lawrence sprung Morgan Clarke-Pizzo on a breakaway and Phantoms’ #13 finished well into the bottom corner.
Leeds threw everything at it in the closing stages and pulled the goalie for the extra skater, but Phantoms held out well for an important win and a four point weekend.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 5-4 Leeds Knights
Phantoms goals:
10:08 (PP 1-1 LK): #2 Tom Norton / #14 Dillon Lawrence / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
21:11 (PP 2-1 LK): #29 Cam Hough / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #35 Joe Gretton (EHG)
33:59 (PP 3-2 LK): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #2 Tom Norton (EHG)
36:54 (PP 4-2 LK): #19 Luke Ferrara / #14 DIllon Lawrence / #29 Cam Hough (PPG)
48:38 (PP 5-4 LK): #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #14 Dillon Lawrence / #95 Jasper Foster (EHG)
Knights goals:
1:35 (PP 1-0 LK): #12 Kieran Brown / #3 Bailey Perre / #73 Matt Bissonnette (EHG)
33:01 (PP 2-2 LK): #12 Kieran Brown / #96 Owen Sobchak / #44 Jordan Griffin (EHG)
42:13 (PP 4-3 LK): #11 Sam Dunn / #93 Balint Pakozdi (EHG)
42:25 (PP 4-4 LK): #96 Owen Sobchak / #12 Kieran Brown / #73 Matt Bissonnette (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #35 Joe Gretton
Knights man of the match: #11 Sam Dunn