It took a 19 shot, no nonsense bludgeoning of visitors Invicta in the final period to secure the points on a freezing cold night of huge frustration both for the team and the Sunday night crowd.
Phantoms had played all the hockey in the opening two periods but it was way too elaborate and hesitant to cause concern to a very determined and very efficient Dynamos D who had little trouble closing down the shooting lanes and giving superb protection to netminder Damien King.
James Ferrara had put Phantoms ahead only for former Phantom Mason Webster to bundle home an equaliser late in the period with just about Mos only chance of the first twenty minutes. The second period saw Darius Pliskauskas serve up a rare moment of quality for the game in firing Phantoms back ahead but Damien King was still facing very little rubber and the game rolled into a nerve wracking final period way too close for comfort.
Thankfully the final period saw Phantoms overpower their stubborn opponents and while it may not have been pretty, it was effective in breaking down the Mos D and breaching the impressive rearguard offered by Damien King. Goals from Nathan Salem and a second for James Ferrara secured the win while Mason Webster grabbed a late consolation and his second of the night for the Mos.
A less than impressive performance on a cold, drab Bretton evening bereft of much by way of entertainment but alas, this is the title run-in now and any win against any team is all that matters …… a point reinforced by the news that all Phantoms fans were waiting for that main title rivals Basingstoke Bison had gone down 4-2 in Swindon.
Two games against basement side Cardiff Fire next week SHOULD leave Phantoms with just nine games to go and knowing that nine wins guarantees the league title. It may be a predictable cliche but it will be nine cup finals after next weekend and its time for everybody on and off the ice to give it all they have for the final push !