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Buzzer Report: Swindon Wildcats 3 Bracknell Bees 2
With winning becoming somewhat of a pleasant habit for Swindon Wildcats of late, Aaron Nell's side made the short trip over to Bracknell in search of another two points and a second successive maximum points weekend. Total Sport's Ben Callaghan reports.
Sunday even saw the Swindon Wildcats travel back down to Bracknell looking for their fourth victory in a row. Two goals from Aaron Nell in the middle period were enough to seal the victory and give the Wildcats back to back four point weekends.
The game began very cagey with the Bees getting the rub of the green early on. Jordan Hedley was called into action straight away, forcing saves to deny James Galazzi and Ivan Antonov with his pads. The Cats then settled into their game plan with Sam Bullas and Jonas Höög testing Alex Mettam in the Bees goal. Swindon then found themselves on a powerplay when Scott Spearing took a 2+2+10 penalty for attempted spearing.
The Cats linked up well on their four minute powerplay and at 13:45 they took the lead. Jonas Höög found Neil Liddiard at the blue-line who fired a big slapshot into traffic. Tomasz Malasinski was on hand to deflect the puck down under Mettam and into the back of the net to give the away side the lead.
The period dwindled down with few chances for either side of real quality. Floyd Taylor forced a good glove save from Mettam before Ziggy Beesley went close for Bracknell.
The middle period continued in a cagey affair, in which Swindon remained initially in control. At 30:29 the Bees did find a way to tie up the game. Carl Thompson and Scott Spearing linked up with the latter forcing a decent pad save from Hedley. Unfortunately for Swindon Ivan Antonov was on hand to pounce on the rebound and tie the game up at 1-1.
The game wasnt tied for long. At 36:29 Swindon regained their lead through the first of two Aaron Nell goals in less than 90 seconds. Firstly, the unlikely duo of Carlo Finucci and Harvey Stead linked up to find Nell in the slot who fired a lethal wristshot into the top corner, to which Mettam had no answer to. Then at 37:46 he scored again.
This time he was fed a pass from Tomasz Malasinski, Nell skated down the left wing and wound up a big slapshot past Mettam to send the Wildcats fans wild and the Bees netminder water bottle flying. The second assist on that goal being awarded to Lee Richardson on his 401st outing for the Cats.
The final period was one Swindon controlled relatively well despite the Bees hard work and effort which could only be commended. Swindon created chances themselves and thought Nell had completed his hat-trick only to see his shot ping off the right post. The Bees were able to create a nervy finish when they were able to get a late goal at 58:43.
Carl Thompson worked hard behind the net and found room to beat Hedley at the near post with the puck going in off the back of Hedley's pads. The assist on the goal going to Tom Relf. The goal proved nothing but a late consolation for Bracknell who despite using their timeout were unable to tie the game up and take it to overtime.
Swindon now have a single game weekend next week when the Guildford Flames visit the Link Centre on Saturday with the Wildcats hoping to make it 5 wins in a row.
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