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Buzzer Report: Swindon Wildcats 3 Bracknell Bees 4
Following their 4-3 winning escapades over Manchester Phoenix on Saturday, Wildcats made their first visit to Bracknell to take on the Bees. Looking to secure yet another four point weekend, Nell's side unfortunately came unstuck and fell to a narrow defeat in Berkshire. Ben Callaghan reports...
A fully fit Wildcats were looking for their fourth win in a row and Jordan Hedley got the start between the pipes, with Alex Mettam starting for Bracknell.
The first period was very end to end with both netminders making early saves to deny their opposing imports. Bracknell came out strong and the likes of Lukas Smital and Frantisek Bakrlik forced Hedley into some good saves in the opening 10 minutes. Jonas Höög had Swindon's best chance but the Swede was unable to convert the breakaway chance. As the period was dying down Bracknell got the first goal of the game, Frankie Bakrlik wound up a slapshot into the top corner of the net, an effort no netminder would save, to ensure the Bees left the first period a goal up.
The second period continued where the first left off and ended with chances falling at both ends of the ice. Jonas Höög again had Swindon's best chance but was unable to find anything other than the post.
Two Milan Kostourek goals in 90 seconds at the midway point of the period proved key. The first, a great tip from a Scott Spearing shot from the point, deflected past Jordan Hedley. Whilst the second goal was a good wraparound move which saw the puck go through the legs of Hedley to give the Bees a 3-0 lead.
Swindon wouldn't settle on this and having used their timeout Carlo Finucci got them on the board with a powerplay goal at 32:22. Malasinski and Nell combined with Finucci on hand to pick up the rebound and shoot into the roof of the net. Swindon were pressing more, Tomasz Malasinski nearly had the puck in the back of the net but Akex Mettam just managed to turn the puck onto the post.
Lee Richardson jumped into the play at the back door shortly after and got Swindon back within one goal. Malasinski and Nell again linking up for the unmarked Richardson to get a well deserved goal. Unfortunately the Bees only needed 19 seconds before Matt Foord scored what proved to be the game winning goal after pouncing on a Jordan Hedley rebound to make it 4-2.
Swindon really stepped it up in the final period, Jonas Höög got his goal firing under the arm of Mettam to get the Cats 3rd of the night at 47:02. Despite out shooting the Bees 18-5 in the final period Swindon were unable to convert anymore.
Bracknell held on for a tight victory and sent the Wildcats players and very vocal fans home after a weekend where just two points were won. Next up for the Cats, a home game against Telford Tigers on Saturday.
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