The Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms’ hopes of reaching the NIHL National Final Four Weekend came to an end as they suffered defeat against the Romford Raiders.
Ashley Tait’s side started fairly well and went close several times through Cam Hough, Dillon Lawrence and Janne Laakkonen, but all found Cole Ceci to be building a solid performance in the Raiders’ net.
The away side took the lead in the closing stages of the first period when Jack Cooper threw a shot on net from the blue line, which made its way through traffic and into the back of the net.
Phantoms started fast in the second period and almost levelled when Hough and Morgan Clarke-Pizzo broke two-on-one, but the latters’ shot was denied by Ceci, who got across well to save on the back door.
But Phantoms did draw level with 25:03 on the clock as Dillon Lawrence pounced on a close range tap in after Luke Ferrara’s right circle shot found its way under the arm of Ceci.
But the Raiders hit back when they broke three-on-one and Ewan Hill ripped a shot into the far top corner from the left circle.
They almost doubled their advantage when Jarrett Baker backhanded wide on a breakaway, but they did make it three when Phantoms turned it over in front of their own goal, enabling Joe Tomalin to capitalise with the finishing touch.
Phantoms’ third period task was made even tougher when Hill notched his second of the game with a tap in from a cross crease feed from Baker at 42:59.
But Phantoms were determined not to go quietly and got back within two when Dillon Lawrence gained the zone and ripped a shot through Ceci on the powerplay.
They struck again moments later to reduce the deficit back to one when Hough ripped his close range shot into the net with eight minutes to play.
And they thought they’d got back on level terms when Lawrence smashed home what would have been his hat-trick goal, only to see it washed out by David Emmerson for goaltender interference.
And Hill delivered the killer blow with 2:46 to play when he jumped on a fortunate bounce off the glass to convert his hat-trick goal on the breakaway.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 3-5 Romford Raiders
Phantoms goals:
25:03 (PP 1-1 RR): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
47:26 (PP 2-4 RR): #14 Dillon Lawrence / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (PPG)
52:00 (PP 3-4 RR): #29 Cam Hough / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
Raiders goals:
18:42 (PP 0-1 RR): #14 Jack Cooper / #10 Brandon Ayliffe / #77 Austin Osborn (EHG)
32:55 (PP 1-2 RR): #59 Ewan Hill / #77 Austin Osborn / #91 Dawson Osborn (EHG)
38:09 (PP 1-3 RR): #5 Joe Tomalin (EHG)
42:59 (PP 1-4 RR): #59 Ewan Hill / #67 Jarrett Baker (EHG)
57:14 (PP 3-5 RR): #59 Ewan Hill (Hat-Trick) (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #11 Scott Robson
Raiders man of the match: #33 Cole Ceci