A complete meltdown in the middle period to the tune of five unanswered goals cost a short-benched Phantoms dear at Slough this evening.
Phantoms were ahead at the first break thanks to goals from Jordan Liddell and a short-handed marker from Mick Alley but whatever happened in the first break turned the game on its head in the second period. Of course it does help to have the experience and influential power-forward Lukas Smital in your ranks and the former Bracknell Bee helped himself to a couple of goals that contributed to a 6-2 lead for Slough at the second interval.
Smital grabbed an early goal in the third period to hammer home what was surely the final nail in the coffin but, to Phantoms credit they didn’t roll over and hit back with a straight hat-trick from Conor Pollard to bring the game back to 7-5 with 8 minutes still left on the clock but a Luke Dreelan strike made the game 8-5 and left Phantoms with no time to respond.
Phantoms MOM went to netminder Dan Lane.
Phantoms are back in NIHL2 action at league leaders and title favourites Chelmsford Chieftains next Sunday, face off at 6:30pm.
Game stats HERE