Another big challenge tonight for the in-form Phantoms but despite being pushed all the way by league leaders Bracknell Bees, it was another well earned two points from Fortress Bretton.
Bees were missing top scoring import forward Roman Malinik but were still a side awash with a combination of experience and energy that that was always going to make for a tight game. Neither side was able to build any momentum in the opening period as both D’s dominated with neither netminder having to break sweat but on 16:43, Phantoms grabbed the lead when Will Weldon and Nathan Pollard broke out 2on1, Pollard taking the shot and Scott Robson trailing in to pick up the rebound off Milton’s pads to bundle home. A one goal lead at the break would probably have been about right but Phantoms doubled that advantage on 18:56 with a goal of real beauty. Robson made the break out once again, dropping the pass to James White who arrowed a gem of a pass to Nathan Pollard on the back post for 2-0.
Bees were probably a little peeved at coming in two goals down in a period where they matched Phantoms and they certainly wasted no time in showing their intent to do something about it. Throughout the middle period, Bees played a high line, fore-checked with great intensity and simply overwhelmed a Phantoms side who struggled to move the puck out of their zone. A sweet top shelf wristshot from Ed Knaggs pulled one back and a close range rebound despatched by Shaun Thompson were the least they deserved even if Jordan Marr might be less than happy with leaking both of them.
Going into the final period, the question was all about whether coach Koulikov could implement a counter to the Bees play and whether Bees could possibly maintain their intensity levels from the middle period. The answers were probably yes and no as Phantoms immediately imposed their own intensity boost to close down Bees who were definitely showing some signs of fatigue from their earlier exploits.
It was another tasty goal that put Phantoms back ahead, just 2:26 into the period when Tom Norton drilled a gem of a pass across to Martins Susters who finished sharply on the back post. Phantoms thought they had added an insurance marker just moments later but referee Miller decided the posts were too far off their moorings to allow the goal to stand. However, the disappointment didn’t last long as Phantoms secured their two goal lead at 48:35 thanks to Tom Norton causing chaos as he drove, both vertically and horizontally, into Milton’s zone leaving Ales Padelek to sweep home the free puck as it bounced back off the Bees netminder.
Bees pushed hard to get back into the game but you sensed Phantoms were now in control and no side seems more comfortable when it comes to defending narrow leads late in the game than this Phantoms side. Bees pulled Milton for a 6on5 throughout most of the last three minutes but Jordan Marr was looking sharp and Phantoms were largely untroubled as the clock ticked down.
MOM went to Will Weldon for a typical gritty two-way game that was exactly what Phantoms needed in this one although I would have possibly given it to Scott Robson for the huge two-way game he also had.
Next week sees the toughest weekend of the season so far with a road trip to Streatham followed by a home game and the first of what could ultimately prove a title deciding series against the Swindon Wildcats …… we will need our A-game in both of those !
Game stats HERE