Overtime winner for Jamieson

This was the splendid starter ahead of a magnificent main course in Phantoms’ crucial weekend.

The city side were pushed to the limit by London last Saturday night before snatching a vital victory as the prospect of penalties loomed increasingly large.

Slava Koulikov’s men showed supreme character to come from behind on three occasions before Leigh Jamieson earned two precious points with 23 seconds to go in overtime.

Any thoughts of Phantoms facing a simple task against a Raiders side they thumped 6-1 on their new Romford ice the previous Saturday were soon dispelled.

Less than three minutes had passed when Olegs Lascenko forced in the opener, but it was cancelled out by a short-handed leveller from Glenn Billing later in the opening session.

London hit the only goal of the second period but the hosts needed only 50 seconds of the final period to haul themselves level again as player-coach Tom Norton struck on a powerplay. But they were level for little more than a minute as Juraj Huska netted his second.

Captain James Ferrara came up with another response for Phantoms when getting the telling touch to a Darius Pliskauskas shot through traffic, but they couldn’t strike again in regulation time.

Jamieson ensured they emerged victorious in overtime though when picking his spot with 23 seconds left.

PICTURE: ALAN STORER Edward Knaggs on the puck for Phantoms against London Raiders.