The Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms suffered home defeat for the first time this season as the Raiders returned to Romford with both points.
The game didn’t get off to the best of starts for Phantoms, who found themselves 1-0 down inside a minute and a half. Tjay Anderson opened the scoring when he won the puck back on the Phantoms blue line and flicked his shot beyond Hayden Lavigne.
And their slow start continued, with the Raiders doubling their advantage with just 2:45 played. This time, it was Shaun Miller who stepped into the play and smashed his shot into the back of the Phantoms net.
Phantoms started to build up some momentum as the opening ten minutes wore on and halved the deficit when captain Luke Ferrara blasted a slap shot past Cole Ceci at 9:55.
But the Raiders extended the lead back to two with just over 15 minutes played, as Miller notched his second of the night, finishing well on the back post on a cross zone feed by Adam Laishram.
Phantoms hit back again inside a minute as Morgan Clarke-Pizzo picked up his second in as many games when he tapped home after good work from Ferrara and Janne Laakkonen.
Cam Hough drew Phantoms level with 5:11 played in the second period, when he broke in on goal and went to the backhand, before coolly slotting his shot through the five hole.
Hough almost put Phantoms ahead with another breakaway, but hit the post, before Ferrara, Hough and Lawrence all saw efforts saved by Ceci as the middle period wore on.
The third period saw Phantoms go on the powerplay on several occasions, but despite some good puck cycling and sustained pressure in the offensive zone, they were finding Ceci a tough nut to crack as they went in search of the winner.
Jasper Foster went close when he was found by Ralfs Circenis, but his first effort was saved and the second found the side netting from a tight angle.
And it was the Raiders who ended up notching the games next gal as Adam Laishram put them back in front with just over 5 minutes to play.
Anderson finished off the scoring with an empty net goal in the final second of the game.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 3-5 Romford Raiders
Phantoms goals:
9:55 (PP 1-2 RR): #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo (EHG)
15:54 (PP 2-3 RR): #13 Morgan Clarke-Pizzo / #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen (EHG)
25:11 (PP 3-3 RR): #29 Cam Hough (EHG)
Raiders goals:
1:27 (PP 0-1 RR): #98 Tjay Anderson (EHG)
2:45 (PP 0-2 RR): #95 Shaun Miller / #67 Jarrett Baker / #81 Adam Laishram (PPG)
15:09 (PP 1-3 RR): #95 Shaun Miller / #81 Adam Laishram / #29 Jake Sylvester (EHG)
54:37 (PP 3-4 RR): #81 Adam Laishram / #86 Tommy Huggett / #67 Jarrett Baker (EHG)
59:59 (PP 3-5 RR): #98 Tjay Anderson (ENG)
Phantoms man of the match: #29 Cam Hough
Raiders man of the match: #33 Cole Ceci