A late shorthanded strike from Petr Stepanek secured a four point Autumn Cup weekend for Phantoms with a 4-3 victory in Telford.
The game got off to a dream start for Phantoms with Ales Padelek opening the scoring on 4:37 and Corey McEwen doubling the lead with a powerplay goal less than two minutes later but Jason Silverthorn was on hand to take a goal back for the home side at 12:45, leaving the opening period 1-2 in Phantoms favour.
Period two saw the Tigers tie the game on 24:17 through Warren Tait and it could have been worse for Phantoms who took a string of minor calls and, at one point, were facing over a minute of 3on5 but the penalty kill units were outstanding on the night in preventing any powerplay goals against.
Period three started with Tigers missing import forward Jason Silverthorn through injury but, undaunted, they struck with a go-ahead goal from Rick Plant on 44:17 to leave Phantoms playing catch up for the first time in the weekend but they rose to the challenge on 48:53 with Glenn Billing finishing from Petr Stepanek for 3-3.
Phantoms survived another minor call against them at 50:30 and then, six seconds after returning to full strength, they dropped a man again when Will Weldon was called for tripping but it was Phantoms who went on to profit when Petr Stepanek took a feed from Glenn Billing to bury a shorthanded goal past Dennis Bell to make it 3-4 in their favour with just over seven minutes to go.
Determined not to make it easy for themselves, Harry Ferguson picked up a Match penalty for high sticks to leave his side facing most of the last five minutes shorthanded, including a period of 4on6 when Tigers pulled their netminder but it was a fitting heroic finale for Phantoms special teams who saw out the game and a hard earned victory.
Phantoms MOM was Tom Norton.
Game stats HERE.