Karl Nicholson receiving his Player of the Match award [Photo Courtesy of 98Yetiiis Photography]
The Phantoms, reigning league Champions, were missing a few players, which meant that GB goalie Rob Gaze switched to defence and former GB goalie and head of the British Sledge Hockey Association, Matt Lloyd, came out of retirement to go between the pipes. Although short benched, they still had the quality to damage Phoenix hopes!
The game started at a quick pace, and with hits coming thick and fast, Peterborough fell foul early through a T-ing call, giving Phoenix its first Powerplay! With Matt Lloyd tracking the puck well and making a great point blank save, it only held off the first goal for so long, with Karl Nicholson eventually beating the keeper at 1:14 to put Phoenix on the board. Peterborough tried to hit back but some great team defence kept them at bay, leading to Phoenix doubling the lead at 10:35, with Karl Nicholson scoring again - a powerful shot that had just enough on it, as the keeper got a piece of the puck and it trickled across the line! The forwards were swarming at this point for Phoenix and just 20 seconds later it was nearly a goal again as a streaking Karl Nicholson received a perfect pass from Graham Wilson but hit the post! Shortly after Anthony Booth was set free by Graham Wilson and buried the 3rd for Phoenix! However Peterborough continued to fight on and get their reward 30 seconds later at 12:40, with Matthew Coleman on a breakaway after a great pass from Darren Brown, just managing to squeeze it past Steve Midghall in the Phoenix net. With no further scoring the first period ended 3-1 to Phoenix!
The second period was even more eventful than the first, with Matt Lloyd injuring his shoulder near the end of the first period, Rob Gaze had to switch back to goalie, meaning the 2nd period was delayed by 10 additional minutes. But when the period did get underway, it took just 39 seconds for Karl Nicholson to notch his hat-trick, with a bullet on a 2 on 0 break with Rob Allen! The Phantoms were pinned in their zone as wave after wave of Phoenix attack came at them, and without some resolute defending and stellar work between the pipes from Rob Gaze, the period could have been a horror story for the Phantoms. With pucks being blocked by defenders and goalie alike, it wasn’t until the last minute of the period that Phoenix added to the tally, with Karl Nicholson picking up a loose puck, weaving through 2 players and roofing the puck to the top left corner to give Phoenix a 5-1 lead after 2 periods!
The 3rd period started with Phoenix killing a few penalties, including a short 5 on 3, with Karl Nicholson and Rob Allen both serving time, but great defence and netminding kept Phantoms off the scoresheet. It gave Phoenix more momentum, which paid off a few minutes later with an epic end-to-end rush by Karl Nicholson to put further daylight between the two sides, much to the delight of the home crowd! Despite strong Phoenix pressure, Peterborough refused to capitulate, but just under halfway through the period, Phoenix struck again through - who else? - Karl Nicholson. Despite Rob Gaze making a brilliant save, the Phoenix captain backhanded the rebound past the keeper for his 6th goal and the teams 7th! Both teams still went at it for more goals, but it was Peterborough who were rewarded for their game-long dogged determination as a goalmouth scramble, in which the Phoenix defence couldn’t clear, resulted in a scrappy goal at 12:46 of the third period, a first for Phantoms player Jon Le Galloudec. As the seconds ticked down to the final buzzer, the home crowd celebrated a home win, and hopefully help spread the word about coming to watch the sport!
A huge performance from Peterborough who despite the adversity, never let their heads down and battled until the end - no doubt a tasty clash awaits in Peterborough when the sides next meet!
Player of the Match went to the Phoenix captain Karl Nicholson, with 6 goals and 1 assist, but plenty of others who could have been chosen. Great home debuts by several players, especially Dominic Cosgrove, who was unlucky not to net a goal.
A massive thank you to all those who volunteered to help the game run smoothly, sell cakes and raffle tickets and those who donated prizes….the organisation can’t thank you enough, also Lemur Graphics for the awesome programme. Also thank you to the Phoenix Podcast for coming down and covering the game….please keep an ear out and show your support by listening….always an entertaining programme.
So next up for the Phoenix is a tough Planet Ice Sledge Hockey League game in Cardiff, followed by a return game in Altrincham. Can the Phoenix carry this momentum forward and build on this important win? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out!!!!
