The Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms split their weekend’s results by defeating the Swindon Wildcats on Sunday night.
It took a while for the big scoring chances to come, but Ales Padelek saw a slap shot kicked away by Swindon goalie, Renny Marr.
Phantoms then had a goal washed out by referee Will Hewitt, as Jarvis Hunt was adjudged to have used a high stick to score, following a shot from Brad Bowering.
But Phantoms did eventually take the lead with 18:26 played, as Duncan Speirs found the net with a blue line slap shot on the powerplay.
However, the sides went in level as Swindon hit back straight away - Russell Cowley scoring from in close to make it 1-1.
Hunt got the goal his play deserved early in the second though as he tapped home a powerplay goal after Martins Susters’ shot deflected to him in close.
And the same man then had a huge chance to make it three, but his slap shot flew wide.
The Wildcats drew level again on 27:53 as Aaron Nell was sent through on a breakaway and made no mistake with his finish.
Then followed another highlight reel goal for Lukas Sladkovsky as he latched onto a diving poke check pass from Susters, pulled an unbelievable move in front of R. Marr and tapped it in.
But once again, the Cats weren’t behind for long, as Gaël Lubwele scored from to the left of goal on the powerplay.
Phantoms did go into the second intermission with the lead though, as Ivan Björkly Nordström notched his first home Phantoms goal from the right circle.
The edge of your seat action continued into the third period as Phantoms were given two chances on the powerplay in the opening minutes of the third. They failed to convert, but J. Marr did make one great save to deny Tomasz Malasinski a shorthanded goal.
And the Cats made it 4-4 with 54:17 played as Aaron Nell redirected a Chris Jones shot into the net as the visitors capitalised on a double minor penalty called on Phantoms captain, Will Weldon.
The game was finely poised going into the final five minutes and it felt as though the game would be won by either side without the need for overtime.
That was how it turned out, in Phantoms’ favour, as Luke Ferrara ripped a shot into the top corner from the left circle with 4:18 to play in the game.
J. Marr was called into action again late on, making a tremendous save to his left, plucking the puck out of the air as it looked to be heading into his net.
The Wildcats pulled the goalie in the closing stages, but Phantoms held out for an important win on home ice.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 5-4 Swindon Wildcats
Phantoms goals:
18:26 (PP 1-0 SW): #38 Duncan Speirs / #19 Luke Ferrara / #29 Will Weldon (PPG)
21:13 (PP 2-1 SW): #96 Jarvis Hunt / #77 Martins Susters / #23 Brad Bowering (PPG)
35:28 (PP 3-2 SW): #91 Lukas Sladkovsky / #77 Martins Susters / #2 Tom Norton (EHG)
39:18 (PP 4-3 SW): #5 Ivan Björkly Nordström / #19 Luke Ferrara (EHG)
55:42 (PP 5-4 SW): #19 Luke Ferrara / #29 Will Weldon / #38 Duncan Speirs (PPG)
Wildcats goal:
19:04 (PP 1-1 SW): #27 Russell Cowley / #3 Balint Pakozdi / #28 Stevie Whitfield (EHG)
27:53 (PP 2-2 SW): #19 Aaron Nell / #91 Colby Tower / #61 Sam Godfrey (EHG)
37:40 (PP 3-3 SW): #26 Gaël Lubwele / #89 Tomasz Malasinski / #72 Glenn Billing (PPG)
54:17 (PP 4-4 SW): #19 Aaron Nell / #11 Chris Jones / #89 Tomasz Malasinski (PPG)
Phantoms man of the match: #93 Ales Padelek
Wildcats man of the match: #30 Renny Marr