The Waldeck Peterborough Phantoms completed a brilliant four point weekend with a narrow home win over the Leeds Knights.
The away side got straight on the front foot early in the game and began to look threatening, as they went in search of revenge after Phantom’ Saturday night win in Leeds.
Their pressure forced Jasper Foster into an early slashing penalty and the Knights capitalised. Kieran Brown found the net after a well worked powerplay move which found him unmarked in the right circle.
Leeds’ lead didn’t last long though, as the Phantoms hit back through a powerplay of their own. When Ethan Hehir sat a hooking penalty, Tom Norton blasted the leveller home from the right circle, beating Sam Gospel at his near post.
But the Knights did go into the first intermission with the advantage thanks to a goal from their point machine, soon to be departing import, Grant Cooper. The Leeds #9 skated in from the right and unleashed a backhanded shot into the top corner.
The second period was a better one for the Phantoms, as they outshot their Yorkshire opposition 13-5. They had chances on the powerplay to add to their scoring, but those efforts were to no avail.
But they did manage to get one even handed, having just killed off a Billy Thorpe cross checking penalty. Martins Susters jumped onto the ice, stole the puck from the defenceman and ripped his effort beyond Gospel to tie the game on 30:49.
And the Phantoms hit the front for the first time in the game with just under ten minutes to play in regulation. Ralfs Circenis capitalised on good work from Glenn Billing to tap home.
It was a thrilling end as Leeds went six on four in the final moments as Circenis went to the box, but the Phantoms held out for a brilliant four point weekend in a double header against the league leaders.
Phantoms goals:
9:16 (PP 1-1 LK): #2 Tom Norton / #38 Duncan Speirs / #93 Ales Padelek (PPG)
30:49 (PP 2-2 LK): #77 Martins Susters (unassisted) (EHG)
50:17 (PP 3-2 LK): #34 Ralfs Circenis / #72 Glenn Billing / #45 Callum Buglass (EHG)
Knights goals:
4:56 (PP 0-1 LK): #12 Kieran Brown / #11 Mathew Haywood / #95 Mac Howlett (PPG)
16:00 (PP 1-2 LK): #9 Grant Cooper / #44 Jordan Griffin (EHG)
Phantoms man of the match: #77 Martins Susters
Knights man of the match: #31 Sam Gospel