It’s been a torrid old time in Peterborough recently, some appalling losses, stunning fight-backs and wildly entertaining games. I think if you wrote up what had happened and presented it as a soap it’d be rejected as unrealistic stuff.

Just over a month back Phantoms management decided to part with Canadian coach Doug Irwin, and replace him with his deputy – Tim Peacock. The decision was announced just hours before the game against the Swindon Wildcats, a game the Phantoms had expected to win comfortably.

Not lose 2-4 at home.

It would be a fair representation to say that no one, except Swindon was happy with the result, players, fans, management the lot and certainly the level of comments from the unofficial fans forum, [url=www.phantomsonline.net]Phantoms Online[/url] caused some temporary ructions in the camp. However, the following week the Phantoms visited Sheffield Scimitars, and a feeling of horrible familiarity crept back across the visiting fans, 5-1 down at the end of the second period and with an avalanche of poor refereeing decision against the Phantoms, coach Tim Peacock attempted to speak with the ref at the end of the second, as is his right. Due to what appeared to be heavy handed responses by the linesmen and indifference from the referee, the new coach, just days after calling for more discipline from the team found himself with a 2 minute, 10 minute, game and match penalty, rather unfairly extended, (in my opinion), to 5 matches by the league.

Now at this point, you’d expect a team, 5-1 down, losing their coach and on the recieving end of some of the worst reffing I’ve seen in a long time to put their heads down and roll over.

No, it was like a red rag to a bull*. 4 unanswered goals in 20 minutes from a completely different team that stepped onto the ice for the third. Credit to the Scims for trying to fight back but they were simply out fought all ovet the ice. 5-5 at the end of the third and 2.37 into OT and defenseman James Morgan struck to win the game for the Phantoms.

The following night the Phantoms hosted last season’s arch rivals the Guildford Flames. It was a hard hitting affair with the Phantoms leading for much of what was a hugely entertaining game against one of the top teams in the league. Given the standard of play you’d have thought it was the two top teams in the league instead of one and a team fighting out of the bottom half of the table. With the score at 6-5 with a minute to go, the Phantoms made a very slight slip, but it was enough to allow floppy haired Martin Massa to sneak an equaliser to tie the game at 6-6 at the end of the third. Into over time and the game went to both ends of the rink until finally just under 2 1/2 minutes into OT, former Phantoms favourite and now Guildford sniper Nathan Rempel snatched the OT winner. After the previous weekends performance the fans were ecstatic to come away with 3 points for the weekend.

Last weekend saw a mix of fortunes. a 3-5 loss to the Basingstoke Bison on the Saturday saw the team throw away a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period to a team that played very well. Again, curious referring decisions played their part, but even Phantoms fans will admit, (grudgingly), that the best team won. As it did the following night when the Phantoms visited Romford. The Romford Raiders are effectively coachless at the moment following Jesse Hammill’s return to Canada to take up a career in the oil industry and the rather sudden departure of replacement coach Erskine Douglas, however, injured forward Jon Sitko steped in for what turned out to be a very firey encounter. Much has been written on the forums regarding what went on and unfortunately I was not present to give my own view, however, Stephen Wall, Phantoms net minder recorded his first shut out of the season as the Phantoms ran out 0-8 winners.

Last night was a game to remember without a doubt.
The final score, was Slough Jets 4 Peterborough Phantoms 5 after over time.

The game started well with both sides fighting had and although the period ended 0-0 it was clear that barring a collapse from one side or the other, it was going to be a very hard fought game. The second period started much as the first had ended however Slough went ahead with a quick goal from Jasc Emersic, however, just over a minute later, Welsh sharp shooter Joe Miller pulled one back to level the scores.
A few minutes later, Paddy Ward put Slough ahead again and in the dying seconds of the period Peter Jasik scored again making it 3-1 at the end of the second. Phantoms fans, fearing the worst went to do what they do best – get noisey and boy did they get noisey.
Come the third and James ferarra struck to bring it back to a one goal game four minutes into the period and it was Latvian former Olympic team member Maris Ziedins level the scores. With the game well and truely in full swing Slough pulled it back to 4-3 with Long scoring half way through the period. With the clock running down it seemed Slough were content to play a defensive game, the Phantoms weren’t and 2 1/2 minutes left in the third, Joe Miller came back for his second to tie the game again. With no further score in the third it went to overtime.

OT started off and you could see immediately that for one team in particular, only one result would do – a win and that win came 1 minute and 9 seconds in when defenseman James Morgan scored with a blistering shot to end the game and a jubilant team took two frankly unexpected points.

In theory the Phantoms host Romford Raiders this evening depending on the weather as a sudden snow shower has left local roads difficult this morning. More later.

Cheers,
Dan

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