Despite a MOM performance from standout netminder Jordan Lawday, Phantoms claimed a vital 3-1 win in Milton Keynes tonight.
In a fast paced bordering on frenetic encounter, Lawday turned away 54 of 57 shots on goal to keep Thunder interested in this one right to the end despite being outshot by Phantoms to the tune of 23-57.
Phantoms took just 2:57 to open the scoring when Will Weldon struck from close range on the powerplay but Lawday heroics kept it at 0-1 until early in the middle period when Phantoms doubled their lead when Brad Bowering drove round the net before feeding captain James Ferrara who made no mistake with the finish. Any thoughts of heading off with a simple road win were soon dashed however when the diminutive Jamie Line powered around a static Phantoms D before firing over Jordan Marr from the angle for 1-2 at 34:05. With just 1:31 left on the period clock, Lawday bounced out a string of rebounds from Phantoms shots but Taylor Romeo was on hand to find one he couldn’t stop and it was 1-3 Phantoms at the second break.
Period three was a case of shutting up shop for Phantoms as Thunder chased hard to get another foothold in the game but the Phantoms D, ably backed by Marr, proved up to the challenge leaving them to skate away with a much needed and much deserved 1-3 victory.
Captain James Ferrara took the MOM honours for Phantoms who return to action next Saturday at Bretton, face-off 7pm in the Autumn Cup against Sheffield Steeldogs.
Game stats HERE