Susters magic puts city men firmly in the title mix

A moment of magic from Martins Susters ensured Phantoms continued their wonderful winning streak and joined the NIHL National Division title race last Sunday.

The forward star left Swindon in a spin with an audacious overtime decider to earn Slava Koulikov’s men a 4-3 verdict in a third-versussecond clash at Planet Ice.

Susters skated in on goal and went full circle before finishing past Wildcats netminder Renny Marr to trigger some wild celebrations - on and off the ice!

And that piece of individual genius featured in a fine show of character from Phantoms as they bounced back from the blow of conceding a leveller late in regulation time to collect an 11th consecutive victory and close to within six-points of stuttering tabletoppers Telford, who had won at at title contenders Swindon 24 hours earlier before losing on Sunday.

A powerplay rocket from import Tyler VanKleef gave Swindon an early advantage, but Phantoms hit back in devastating style with three

PHANTOMS

12.25 Norton ass: Billing/Padelek 13.00 Padelek ass: Billing/J. Ferrara 17.46 Norton (PP) ass: Padelek/Weldon 61.44 Susters ass: Billing/Norton

SWINDON

5.18 VanKleef (PP) ass: Nell/Jones 25.28 Bebris ass: Jones/Rutkis 57.47 Rutkis ass: Malasinski/Bebris

PHANTOMS Tom Norton

SWINDON Renny Marr

goals in little more than five minutes.

Their turnaround was inspired by two-goal Tom Norton whose brace sandwiched a thunder-strike from import Ales Padelek.

Norton ghosted into the back post to put away a perfect Padelek pass to level on a powerplay before the Czech ace completed the turnaround only 45 seconds later.

Norton then struck again in a five-on-three situation to stretch the advantage, but Swindon weren’t about to wave the white flag.

The Wildcats had the better of the second session with one-time Phantoms play-off winner Eddie Bebris reducing the arrears before they had Floyd Taylor thrown out for a high-sticking offence which left Corey McEwen bloodied.

But Phantoms failed to make the most of the fiveminute powerplay which followed his ejection before both sides carved out, but couldn’t take, chances galore in the final session.

The city men then ran into penalty trouble with an immense killing effort preserving their lead only to see it snatched away by Toms Rutkis with little more than two minutes to go.

Neither side could strike again in regulation time as they claimed a point apiece, but Susters settled the issue in the second minute of overtime.

It was a glorious goal to finish off an outstanding contest.