A dramatic night at Bretton on Sunday saw Phantoms 2 inflict only the second defeat of the season on title favourites Bracknell Hornets in a game that had everything.
There were no goals in the opening two periods but there was just about everything else as both sides went toe-to-toe in every respect. In the middle period, Hornets netminder waded in to join the fun and games but illegally used his blocker in the fight and that meant an early shower and the arrival of his backup who then stood firm against a Phantoms onslaught to test him out. At the other end, Dan Lane had to come good to keep out a Hornets penalty shot and take the game into the final twenty.
At 48:17, Kenny Bavin at last broke the deadlock, converting from Clint Herring but a game ending 2+10 call on Taylor Romeo for checking from behind immediately put the Hornets in the ascendancy with now Ryan Bainborough having to stand tall to keep Phantoms ahead. With six minutes remaining, Connor Stokes was called after clearing the boards for a delay of game call but Phantoms survived only for Hind-Pitcher to grab a game tieing goal with 3:16 left on the clock.
Undeterred and despite being heavily outshot, Phantoms bounced back with Clint Herring credited with the go-ahead goal just 41 seconds later albeit it was more of an own goal and despite having to ride out a late powerplay when Herring himself had to sit out a slashing call, Phantoms held on for a superb victory.
Man of the match was D-man Craig Wallis.
Phantoms 2 are back in action next Saturday when they host Cardiff Fire 2 at Bretton, face-off 6:45pm.
Game stats HERE