Seagulls brought down by Phantoms menace in thriller
● ● THE Planet Ice Rink at Widnes hosted a thrilling finale to the Western Conference Group Stage of the Summer Classic Cup on Saturday with a highly entertaining game between the Wyre Seagulls and the Flintshire Phantoms.
The Seagulls usually play home games in Blackburn but, as their home rink is closed for major refurbishment, they have been training and playing home matches in Widnes.
This game was of particular importance as it featured the top two teams in the Western Conference with a winner-take-all scenario to secure the top spot.
The Seagulls entered the game with a one point advantage over the Phantoms in the Group Table, which meant that a draw or overtime win would hand them the title, whereas the Phantoms would need a win in regular time to leapfrog them to top place.
The game was very closely fought throughout with little to choose between the teams. The opening phase was very tight, with opportunities at both ends and the breakthrough did not come until the 16th minute, when the Phantoms scored two quick-fire goals - through Sterling Steeves and Ondrej Leibelt – within 10 seconds of each other, a crucial lead that they carried with them into the first break.
The second period was even closer, with the only goal coming in the 27th minute from the Seagulls’ Conor Duthie to halve the deficit and set up a knife-edge final period. Any hopes that the Seagulls had of forcing an early equaliser were thwarted when the Phantoms extended their lead with a 43rd minute goal from George Perrett.
The visitors further extended their lead with a second goal from Steeves on 49 minutes, leaving the Seagulls with too much to do to try and catch up.
The 4-1 win means that the Flintshire Phantoms finish top of the Summer Classic Cup Western Conference, one point ahead of the second place Seagulls.
Both teams have qualified for the Play Off stages of the competition, where they will come up against the top teams from the Eastern Conference and which culminates in a final in Sheffield on August 11.