MATCH REPORT: Phantoms at their best for a period as play-off final finishes all square

Leigh Jamieson (white) in action for Phantoms against Basingstoke. Photo: Alan Storer/Feral Marmot Films.

Peterborough Phantoms produced one of their finest periods of the season in one of their biggest occasions to keep their hopes of silverware alive.

The city team delivered a rousing final session, which featured a late Nathan Salem equaliser, in the opening leg of the NIHL Division One South play-off final at Planet Ice last night (March 31).

The all-star team member delivered the all-important goal with a shade more than five minutes remaining to earn Phantoms a 1-1 deadlock against the team who pipped them to league title glory on goal difference.

It was a deserved outcome for Slava Koulikov’s men in a game which was every bit as intense and close as expected as rival netminders Euan King and Dean Skinns both excelled.

James Ferrara in action for Phantoms against Basingstoke. Photo: Alan Storer/Feral Marmot Films.

The opening period was an engrossing rather than entertaining affair between two teams who are so evenly matched despite having very different approaches.

King had to make a couple of smart stops to deny Ivan Antonov an opener and also plucked a Tomas Karpov effort from the air.

Bison goalie Skinns was beaten by a deflected Nathan Salem effort at the other end, but his effort trickled agonisingly wide of a post. Skinns did succeed in keeping out efforts of note from Glenn Billing and Leigh Jamieson later in a blank period.