MATCH REPORT | PHANTOMS UNDONE BY SECOND-PERIOD SURGE IN ROMFORD

It was early déjà vu for the Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms, as the Raiders opened the scoring within 90 seconds for the second time in four days. Jake Sylvester broke clear, steadied himself, and fired high over Lavigne for the Raiders’ first goal just 23 seconds into the game.

The early excitement continued at the Sapphire, with Janne Laakkonen equalising just three minutes later - assisted by Dillon Lawrence and Luke Ferrara.

The Phantoms looked to build on this momentum, with a Joe Gretton effort going high from distance and both Lawrence and Ferrara denied in close.

As the Raiders began to find their feet again, some determined backchecking from Richard Hartmann helped keep the score level - with Lavigne making a couple of crucial saves to assist.

As Scott Robson sat for hooking - the Phantoms penalty kill faced its first test. With Jake Sylvester firing on net from the blue line, a Tom Palmer screen took Lavigne’s eyes and allowed the young Nils Maskalans to tip home on the powerplay at 12:28.

Robson looked to make amends on his exit from the penalty box - marauding down the ice and playing a smart drop pass to the onrushing Lawrence, who was unlucky to see his shot kicked clear.

With Raiders captain Jack Cooper sitting a cross-checking minor, it was Lawrence who stepped up on the powerplay, firing past Ceci at 16:59 - assisted by Callum Buglass and Luke Ferrara.

A late scuffle in front of Ceci saw Robson and Marco Pascale end the period on coincidental roughing penalties, with the Phantoms man appealing to the officials for a missed call well into the break.

Following a brief recall of the players to complete three seconds of the first period, the second was officially underway.

Buglass opened the period with a pass across the paint towards a tangled-up Louie Kynaston. With the puck deflected out, it was Jasper Foster who fired the loose puck into the chest of Ceci before it was frozen.

Callum Burnett was next into the box - sitting a minor for interference after a hit on Lawrence.

Laakkonen threaded a pass across the paint from the first faceoff, but it was just ahead of the Phantoms’ powerplay unit. His second setup attempt proved more fruitful - dropping a pass to Lawrence just below the blue line, who sniped Ceci’s bottle with a one-timer at 24:17 for the Phantoms’ first go-ahead goal of the game.

Two quick powerplay goals from Jarrett Baker saw the home side regain the lead over the next few minutes. The Canadian defenceman fired home on Lawrence’s slashing penalty at 28:53, before capitalising on Foster’s hooking call less than two minutes later at 30:49.

A Shaun Miller breakaway opportunity looked to extend the Phantoms’ struggles a few moments later - with his speed beating the defensive line and a shot, executed whilst falling, well-saved by Lavigne.

The Raiders’ fifth and sixth goals came in quick succession before the second break, with Tjay Anderson striking at 38:23 and Sylvester adding his second of the game just 30 seconds later at 38:53.

The Phantoms had it all to do in the final third. An early Tomalin breakaway looked to suffocate any effort to build momentum, but Bowering did well to cut it out.

Jack Cooper wound up from the blue line - beating Lavigne - but saw his effort hit the inside of the post, bounce out, and into the Phantoms netminder’s grasp.

An Elliott Dewey tripping penalty was well killed by the Raiders, before Ralfs Circenis and Jack Cooper dropped the gloves a few moments later to repopulate the penalty box. An additional instigation penalty for the Romford man saw the Phantoms return to the powerplay - but it was Anderson who had the last word, converting a shorthanded breakaway at 53:16.