The Wendy’s Peterborough Phantoms bounced back from Saturday night defeat by ending the run of the last remaining unbeaten side, the Swindon Wildcats.
Head Coach, Ashley Tait, would’ve undoubtedly wanted to see his side right the wrongs of the previous evening with a more solid performance on Sunday night and he certainly saw that from his side.
Phantoms started well and went close when Dillon Lawrence danced out in front, but Renny Marr kicked it away on the stretch.
But Phantoms did take the lead with just over four minutes played when captain Luke Ferrara found space to the left of goal and ripped his shot into the back of the Wildcats’ net.
They continued to threaten and went close again when Lawrence found Ralfs Circenis with a lovely cross ice pass in the neutral zone, but Circenis’ shot was well saved.
Aaron Nell’s side levelled the scores with 10:48 played when Sam Godfrey released Tyler Watkins with a stretch pass through the middle, and the American forward finished low past the glove of Hayden Lavigne.
It was turning into an interesting tactical battle between two good sides and both teams were defending very well, with both goalies standing tall when called upon.
Phantoms went close just after they’d killed a penalty and Cam Hough centred for Circenis, but his shot went just wide.
Nell had the games’ next best chance for the away side, but rifled wide after the Cats had broken 2-on-1.
No goals in the second and the third period continued in similar fashion, with both sides failing to find the net.
Former Phantoms Eddie Bebris and Glenn Billing linked up for the Cats’ next chance, which Lavigne saved, before Hough threw himself in the way of a big wrist shot as Phantoms continued to battle.
The game went to overtime and it was end-to-end stuff for the first couple of minutes. Hough showed his two-way game to full-effect once again when he raced back to deny what looked to be a certain Swindon breakaway in the bonus period - the crowd celebrating his poke check with as much appreciation as a goal.
And those same fans got to celebrate the game winner, when Tom Norton ripped home into the far corner from the right circle to earn Phantoms an excellent home win.
FINAL SCORE: Peterborough Phantoms 2-1 Swindon Wildcats (After overtime)
Phantoms goals:
4:02 (PP 1-0 SW): #19 Luke Ferrara / #62 Janne Laakkonen / #2 Tom Norton (EHG)
63:50 (PP 2-1 SW): #2 Tom Norton / #33 Ralfs Circenis (EHG)
Wildcats goal:
10:48 (PP 1-1 SW): #18 Tyler Watkins / #61 Sam Godfrey (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #2 Tom Norton
Wildcats man of the match: #74 Josh Shaw