MATCH REPORT | PITBULLS TAKE SHOOTOUT WIN

Despite an impressive fightback in the second period, it was the Bristol Pitbulls who took both points via the shootout, with Bayley Harewood scoring the game-winning goal.

Some early sustained pressure from the Pitbulls was well dealt with by Hayden Lavigne - a smart Hamill effort going closest.

It was two former Pitbulls in Morgan Clarke-Pizzo and Ralfs Circenis who first tested Tommy Nappier, with some sharp rebounds well parried by the Bristol netminder.

Jasper Foster looked to take advantage of an out-of-position Nappier from the blue line next, seeing the puck coughed up and the subsequent rebound bobble wide.

The home side struck first - opening the scoring with two in quick succession. Import Jake Bricknell fired five-hole on Lavigne for 1-0 at 06:33, doubling his tally less than 30 seconds
later with seven minutes on the clock.

Corey McEwen and Louie Kynaston saw efforts denied by Nappier as the Phantoms attempted to regain control, but it was Rhys Smetham who extended the lead to 3-0 at 14:09.

Some strong defensive play from Janne Laakkonen kept the first-period deficit at three, with the Pitbulls outshooting the Phantoms 23:9.

The Phantoms came out firing in the middle frame - Dillon Lawrence blasting high over Nappier just 01:19 into the period, before Cam Hough added the second at 22:47. The equaliser came at 25:05, with Captain Luke Ferrara finishing off an impressive, fluid move from the top line.

With the Pitbulls’ backs already to the wall, Calum McGill’s crosschecking penalty became a 5-on-3 powerplay for the Phantoms as Tanner Butler joined him in the box on a slashing call.

Despite surviving the extended penalty kill, there were only three seconds of evenhanded hockey before Clarke-Pizzo scored the go-ahead goal at 30:41.

A Circenis crosscheck saw the Phantoms face their first penalty kill of the evening - with a strong special-teams performance helping retain momentum. Again, it was only a few seconds of 5-on-5 before the Phantoms extended their lead, this time through a Louie Kynaston breakaway finish for 5-3.

Brad Bowering’s tripping penalty at 39:51 meant the Pitbulls would start the third period with a man advantage. John Dunbar capitalised at 40:27, bringing the Pitbulls back within a goal.

Bricknell secured his hat trick a couple of minutes later - firing the equaliser past Lavigne at 42:56.

Jasper Foster and Reece Cochrane both saw time in the penalty box in the second half of the final frame - for tripping and slashing respectively - with both penalties well killed.

As Lavigne was checked over following a couple of collisions, the Phantoms took time to regroup with a couple of minutes on the clock. Some fast hands from Bowering looked to test Nappier in the dying moments, but it wasn’t enough to fend off overtime.

Breakaway chances for Bricknell and Lawrence were the only efforts of note in the additional period, with the game decided on penalties.

Hough saw his effort saved by Nappier, while Lawrence and Ferrara shot wide. It was Bayley Harewood who fired over Lavigne for the game-winning penalty shot, securing both points for the home side.

FINAL SCORE: Bristol Pitbulls 6-5 Peterborough Phantoms (SO)