Cardiff Fire 4, Peterborough Phantoms 6
Man of the match Iwan Davies led the Fire charge when they launched a comeback against Peterborough Phantoms at the Viola Arena.
Cardiff Fire were 6-0 down with 32 minutes 14 seconds gone, but they hit back with a ferocity which shocked their visitors.
Davies (2), Cameron Basnett and Elliott Murdoch scored Fire’s goals.
Their fourth went in with one minute 40 seconds left, while Fire pulled goaltender James Whiting with 43 seconds left.
They couldn’t produce the goals needed, but the team spirit and character shown during the fightback was impressive.
Fire have two home fixtures left this season, against Haringey Huskies on Sunday, March 24 and Invicta Mustangs on Sunday, March 31.
Goaltender Daniel Lane was man of the match for Phantoms after he kept out 55 of the 59 shots fired at him.
Lane was kept consistently busy, facing 20 shots in the first period, 19 in the second and 20 during the third.
Swedish defence man Victor Langseth fought Phantoms’ Jack Sansby after a horrible hit from behind and both players were penalised 2+2 for fighting. Sansby was given an extra 10 minutes for misconduct.
Phantoms scored goals after 6-26, 7-28 and 12-27 to leave 3-0 at the first interval, adding three more in the second after 25-12, 27-52 and 32-14.
Then came the Fire reaction. Davies netted after 36-57 and 39-24, while Cameron Basnett (53-44) and Elliott Murdoch (58-20).
Match stats:
Scorers, Fire: Iwan Davies 2+0, Cameron Basnett 1+1, Elliott Murdoch 1+0, Chris Fox 0+2, Ellis Sheppard 0+2, Joe Morris 0+1, Phil Manny 0+1.
Phantoms: Clint Herring 2+0, Jack Sansby 1+0, Nicholas Alley 1+1, Kenny Bavin 1+0, Connor Pollard 1+2.
Shots on goal: Fire (on Lane) 20+19+20=59, Phantoms (on Davies/Whiting) 9+11+4=24.
Penalties in minutes: Fire 6+14+26=46; Phantoms 12+12+6=30.
https://twitter.com/CardiffFireIHC/status/1101979212339167232
Tickets: http://bit.ly/cardiff-fire
Cardiff Fire remaining fixtures
March
Sunday 10 v Guildford Phoenix (away, 5.30pm)
Sunday 17 v Haringey Huskies (away, 5.30pm)
Sunday 24 v Haringey Huskies (home, 6pm)
Sunday 31 v Invicta Mustangs (home, 6pm)
April
Sunday 7 v Oxford City Stars (away, 6.15pm)