This weekend saw the play off quarter finals between 3rd placed Manchester Phoenix and 6th Place Peterborough Phantoms. The odds were in favour of the Phoenix however the Phantoms had a fighting chance. Key to making it to the semi finals in Coventry would be taking a lead into the second leg, but despite a valiant fightback on the Saturday which saw the Phantoms come back from 1-3 down to tie the game at 3-3, a tough away leg at Manchester faced the Phantoms on the Sunday night.

Phoenix scored early and again put 2 goals between themselves and the Phantoms, however, as with the night before the underdog Phantoms fought back and tied the game at 2-2. As the game looked like it was going into overtime, luck, that most fickle of mistreses, deserted the Phantoms and with less than 2 minutes to go Manchester scored again to make it 3-2, (6-5 agg), and book themselves a quarter final slot in their inagural season.

In all a cruel fate to befall the Phantoms having worked so hard in both games, but the better team won. It doesn’t mean that the Phantoms wouldn’t have made equally worthy winners, but as with such contests, one team has to win, the other loses. The Phantoms begin their summer break now, a week earlier than they would have hoped, but if it’s any consolation to them, the league winners, Milton Keynes Lightning will also be starting their summer break a week early, having been on the recieving end of a shock home defeat to 8th placed Swindon Wildcats. Good luck in Ceventry Swindon!

Advertisement