It’s play-off time for the glory-hunting Phantoms

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Peterborough Phantoms set off in pursuit of their first major honour for three years this weekend.

The city side start their National League play-off campaign with tough back-to-back games against Swindon Wildcats.

Phantoms travel to Wiltshire on Saturday before hosting Swindon at Planet Ice on Sunday (5.30pm).

Phantoms then tackle Basingstoke Bison away (Saturday, April 16) and at home (Sunday, April 17, 5.30pm) before clashing with Sheffield Steedogs away (Friday, April 22) and at home (Sunday, April 24, 5.30pm).

Phantoms need to finish in the top two to qualify for finals weekend in Coventry (April 30-May 1).

Phantoms finished sixth of nine in the regular season so will have their work cut out to emulate Koulikov’s 2018-19 side who won the Southern Play-off Championships.

Phantoms last won a national title in the 2008-09 campaign when English Premier League play-off success completed a clean sweep of the three biggest available

honours.

Swindon finished second in the final table this season with Sheffield third and Basingstoke seventh.

The other group sees Telford (who finished top of the regular season standings) take on Leeds (4th). MK (5th) and Bees (8th).

Phantoms finished their regular season with a 5-3 defeat in Swindon and a 4-1 home win over bottom club Raiders.

Phantoms led 2-1 in Swindon after 26 minutes thanks to goals from Tom Norton and Jasper Foster, but they were 5-2 down before a late consolation goal from Corey McEwen.

Phantoms were without captain Will Weldon & Ross Clarke because of injuries, while Billy Thorpe was in Estonia with GB U18s.

Nathan Salem scored twice against Raiders with Norton and Jarvis Hunt also on target.

Phantoms celebrate their 2019 Southern Play-Off FInal success. Photo: Alan Storer/Feral Marmot Films