Peterborough Phantoms 3, Cardiff Fire 4
Welshman Morgan Evans struck gold for Cardiff Fire in their National Ice Hockey League match at Peterborough Phantoms.
Evans scored a powerplay goal early in the final period to earn a win which keeps Fire hopes of am end-of-season play off slot burning brightly.
Fire now go into back-to-back home fixtures against Guildford next Saturday and Oxford City Stars the next evening.
Former Devils defenceman Mark Smith is Fire’s coach and he is intent on firing up a bid for the play-offs.
Phantoms fought back from a goal down three times, but Fire came out on top thanks to that Evans strike.
The goal by Evans, one off the most promising players coming out of the Cardiff youth development system, is a massive step forward.
Match stats:
Scorers, Phantoms: Clint Herring 1+0, Sam Barlow 1+0, Nicholas Alley 1+0, Jack Sansby 0+1, Kenny Bavin 0+1, Connor Hunter 0+1, Conor Pollard 0+1.
Fire: Stephen Deacon 1+1, Elis Sheppard 1+0, Jordan Powell 1+0, Morgan Evans 1+0, Joe Morris 0+1, Tamas Elias 0+1, Jackson Price 0+1.
Shots on goal: Phantoms (on Whiting) 29, Fire (on Lane) 41.
Penalties in minutes: Phantoms: 4+18+29=51; Fire 8+4+2=14.
National Ice Hockey League South fixtures next weekend:
Saturday: Bristol Pitbulls v Swindon Wildcats (5pm), Romford Raiders v Slough Jets (5.15pm), Invicta v Chelmsford Chieftains (5.15pm), Bracknell Hornets v Peterborough Phantoms (6pm), Cardiff Fire v Guildford 6.30pm).
Sunday: Haringey Huskies v Bracknell Hornets (5.30pm), Cardiff Fire v Oxford City Stars (6pm), Swindon Wildcats v Lee Valley Lions (6.15pm), Basingstoke Buffalo v Solent Devils (6.15pm).