Media Man's Phantom pain

MANCHESTER MAYHEM     1 - 4    PETERBOROUGH PHANTOMS

Saturday evening saw the Manchester Mayhem lose their first game of the British Para Ice Hockey league season, as combination of things allowed the Cambridgeshire side to take a 4-1 victory at Widnes, with Phantoms forward Jamie Hutchcraft grabbing two in game to move the Phantoms top of the tree and stay unbeaten early on this season.

After a nightmare 2023, it saw the Mayhem welcoming back two of their key forwards in Rob Allen, who was forced to miss the entire season through surgery last year, while Karl Nicholson returned to the Manchester line up after helping out with Peterborough last season. Head coach Pete Hagan handed a home debut to Daniel Hartshorn, as the Mayhem boasted their biggest bench for some time, even with a few absentees in it. For their opponents in the Peterborough Phantoms, it saw Ian Offers side having a smaller bench but still included the GB quartet in Gary Farmer, Callum Shakespeare, Stacey Quirk and Alysha Atkinson at their disposal.

Both sides had plenty of possession early doors, but just neither side could create a clear cut chance. It did see both sides having a pop at goal, as Darren Pomfret made the first save of the game from Callum Shakespeare of the Phantoms; while Dan Lee denied Dean Lahan at the front of the net to keep it scoreless. Manchester found themselves more in the attacking zone than that of their opponents, but it always seemed to be just that final pass or a stray stick, or sledge that would take the puck away from the intended receiver. It has to be said though, Peterborough looked far more threatening than that of the home side when in attack, as the Phantoms play had more purpose as opposed to the Mayhem’s.

With 8.11 gone in the game – it saw the Phantoms taking the lead courtesy of a pass out front from the backboards by Stacey Quirk to Ali Amini, who put it high for 1-0. For Manchester – going behind was nothing new to them, especially as they failed to score in a couple of games last year. However, the side responded very well to going a goal down, and they quickly looked to try and find an equaliser but Dan Lee proved a thorn in their side. One could say that they were guilty at times of over-playing on occasions, as by doing so it allowed the visitors to get back in time and put them off at the last moment. Having seen the Mayhem netting double figures in their exhibition game a couple of weeks ago against GB Women, this game saw their aiming being fairly off, and shot most of their chances over the bar.

Play in the second period saw Peterborough controlling the middle stanza in terms of possession, as Manchester outshot their opponents 6-2, but were constantly hampered by the fast tracking back of Gary Farmer, as the Phantoms man was a cleaner for the away side by sweeping up any danger that progressed at the back. Peterborough doubled their lead at 19.04 – as Jamie Hutchcraft put one on net and saw the puck maybe taking the slightest of deflections off captain Mark Colquitt, as it got by the mis-sighted Darren Pomfret for 2-0.

Manchester didn’t really have any clear cut chances in the second, as despite having more shot attempts on Lee in goal, they still battled hard on trying to get back in the game. Peterborough did a great job of breaking up any potential plays in the neutral zone, as it seemed to frustrate the home side who began to press forward more, but by doing so left more clear ice behind them in defence, as they had to be careful. It saw pass the midway mark of the game and no Gary Farmer on the scoresheet, as that is like toast without butter, cereal without milk, and even a Sunday roast without any Yorkshire puddings. But balance in the world would soon be restored, as he fired in a third for the Phantoms at 27.02 and the home side just wanted the period break to regroup and gather their thoughts before the third and final period.

As play moved to the third, it saw Pomfret starting the period off by making a superb glove save from Farmer in the opening minute of play – as it seemed to give an early boost for the hosts in the period. That boost saw the Mayhem getting on the board after Anthony Booth broke free and rounded the netminder to slide the puck home for 3-1 at 31.54, and saw game on. Manchester managed to carve out a couple of great chances for themselves, with Karl Nicholson having the best chance when he broke clear but produced a double save from Lee, with the referee then blowing up after losing sight of the puck. Moments later saw Anton Tomlinson going close with Lee yet again called upon, as the Mayhem were enjoying a purple patch in the contest.

Once again a combination of things left the Mayhem frustrated in attack, as they couldn’t capitalise when in dangerous positions. Peterborough scored a fortunate fourth goal to kill the game off, as Jamie Hutchcraft grabbed his second of the game when his effort was stopped by Pomfret, who had no idea where the puck was, before the netminder pushed it into his own net for 4-1 at 37.47 and that was that. That goal really took the wind out of the sails of the Mayhem, as Peterborough bossed the play and saw the game out with the home side clean out of ideas late on.

The scoreline doesn’t give a true reflection of the game, as it wasn’t a 4-1 game at all, as it was a pretty even contest between the two sides with the shot on goal reading 18-18. The second and fourth goal proved to be difference makers, as Peterborough were more clinical in front of goal too, but a great game plan was executed too and sees them sitting top of the league table for now at least.

The Mayhem will not have too long to dwell on this result, as they face the Sheffield Steel Kings on the road this Saturday evening, while their next home game is on the 16th at home against the other Sheffield side in the Steel Stings at Widnes.

Match Facts:

Mayhem: Anthony Booth 1+0, Karl Nicholson 0+1, Dean Lahan 0+1

Phantoms: Jamie Hutchcraft 2+0, Gary Farmer 1+0, Ali Amini 1+0, Stacey Quirk 0+1

Shots on goal: 18-18 – Saves: Pomfrett 15/18 (65.2%) – Lee 17/18 (94.4%)