SWINDON Wildcats got their Premier League campaign off to a winning start with an overtime penalty shootout victory at reigning champions Manchester Phoenix this evening.

Ryan Aldridge's side twice came from behind to force overtime at the Altrincham Ice Dome as the scores were tied at 3-3 at the end of the third period.

And despite goalscorer Aaron Nell missing his opening shootout attempt, Jan Kostal and Tomasz Malasinski blasted home, with Stevie Lyle also saving from Adam Walker and Michal Psurny to secure the win for Cats.

The visitors got off to the worse possible start, with their defence being dragged to the right of the goalmouth early on and after Lyle was forced into a save, the puck broke free to allow James Archer time and space to blast home an early goal for the Phoenix.

The game started with a frenetic pace but once Swindon finally found their feet, Nell tested netminder Steve Fone with a powerful slapshot.

At the other end, Luke Boothroyd and Robin Kovar signalled their intent with effort that whizzed narrowly past the post before player-coach Tony Hand fired just wide from a pinpoint cross-rink pass.

Swindon began to enjoy a lot more possession in the latter stages of the period, moving the puck around nicely, but goalscoring opportunities were at a premium as the visitors went into the first break still trailing to that early Archer goal.

After a quiet opening to the second period, Lyle made a crucial save to deny Archer from close range, with the Manchester man attempting to convert from close range as he pounced on a rebound but found the Wildcats goalie in his path.

But just moments later, Swindon conceded a second as František Bakrlík was in the right place at the right time to sweep home the Phoenix's second goal of the evening.

As Aldridge's side looked to hit back, Manchester netminder Fone made a vital stop to deny Kostal from point-blank range, hurling himself to the ice to smother the Wildcats man's effort.

At the other end, Bobby Chamberlain's instinctive attempt wasn't far off-target whilst Swindon's Shane Moore and Sam Bullas combined, with the latter drawing a save from Fone.

But just minutes before the break, Swindon were handed a powerplay after Kovar was penalised for tripping and Malasinski converted to make the man advantage count and reduce the deficit to 2-1.

The visitors then made the perfect start to the third and final period.

Cats exploded out of the blocks and after Kostal's slapshot was blocked by a Manchester defender, Ollie Betteridge cracked home the rebound to get Swindon back on level terms.

But parity didn't last long, with the hosts roaring back through Psurny, who curled a strike into the net to leave the Wildcats chasing again.

The two sides began to trade blows, with neither allowing the other to enjoy any significant spells of possession, but with just under five minutes remaining, a swift pass from the back sent Nell racing clear and the Swindon man held his nerve before firing past Fone to tie up the scores yet again and force overtime.

Nell came close to turning match-winner with a strike that cracked against the frame of the goal whilst at the other end, Bakrlík threatened with a scooped attempt that flew just wide.

As the Phoenix earned a late powerplay after Nell was penalised for tripping, Lyle was forced to beat away a Kovar strike but the two sides couldn't be separated as the match entered the shootout, with Aldridge's side emerging victorious.