Milton Keynes Lightning bounced back from Sunday's 8-3 hammering at Peterborough with a 4-3 home win over Romford Raiders on Friday evening, scoring twice in the final five minutes to overturn a 2-3 deficit and end Romford's four-game winning run. Thomas struck at 55:23 and Jokinen added the clincher at 57:53 — both from Howlett assists — and despite Romford pulling their goalkeeper and calling their timeout in the closing seconds, Lightning held on for a result that will do much to settle MK's confidence after a turbulent week.

For Romford, who arrived having won their last four matches and scored 23 goals in the process, this is their first defeat since 1 March. The composure required to win a game from behind in the final minutes is exactly the kind of mentality MK will need heading into the final weeks of the season.

Romford build a lead through the first period

Romford made the better start. Sylvester scored on the power play at 10:55 — unassisted — after Kelly was penalised for interference at 9:53, and Baker converted a second power play at 19:18 from Johnston and Power after Salisbury was penalised for interference at 17:37. Romford led 2-0 at the first break having converted both their power play opportunities cleanly.

MK pull level — Romford respond

Norris pulled one back for MK at 23:02 from Lewis and Kelly to open the second period, and Anderson answered at 30:18 from Kanys' assist to restore Romford's two-goal advantage at 3-1. Field then equalised again at 36:19 from Grinnell-Parke, and MK went into the third period 2-3 down but having shown they could score.

Two goals in two minutes settle it

The third period was tense throughout. Ayliffe was penalised for tripping at 51:04, giving MK a power play they couldn't convert. Then Thomas struck at 55:23 from Howlett's assist to level it at 3-3 — the first time MK had been level since the opening minutes of the second period — and Jokinen completed the turnaround at 57:53 from Forsberg and Howlett to make it 4-3.

Romford pulled their goalkeeper at 58:55 and called a timeout at 59:53, but couldn't find an equaliser. The match ended with roughing calls on Anderson (ROM) and Jokinen (MK) at 60:00 — the buzzer arriving with both sides fractious — but the result was already confirmed.

Howlett finished with two assists in the third period — the key contributor to both of MK's late goals. Jordan Hedley in the MK net had a reasonable evening despite the early deficit; Owen Rider in the Romford goal conceded four.

Form in context

MK came into this match having been beaten 8-3 by Peterborough on Sunday — their worst result of the season — and last Saturday's 5-4 overtime loss at Basingstoke. This win restores some confidence and is their third home win in four. The ability to score twice in the final five minutes from behind is a statement of resilience.

For Romford, four wins in a row had suggested a side peaking at the right time. This defeat halts that momentum, though their power play conversion — two from two in the first period — remains a genuine threat.