Cats put to the Slough-ter (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON WILDCATS: Cats put to the Slough-ter

6:00am Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Sport By Andy Warren

SWINDON Wildcats’ wait for a win goes on after a 7-3 defeat at the hands of play-off champions Slough Jets at the Link Centre last night.

The home side never got back on terms after going 3-1 down at the end of the first period, but they dominated the second period without being able to reel in their visitors before playing their part in a free-scoring final period.

Aaron Nell netted twice while Michal Kapicka also registered for the Cats, but the home side missed a host of chances and looked tired as they failed to take advantage on the powerplay and slipped to a home defeat.

Things started badly for the home side as both Nell and Jan Melichar were sent to the penalty box, and the Cats held on well shorthanded for over a minute and a half before Darius Pliskauskas fired home after a series of good blocks from the home D.

Nell had an effort well saved by netminder Gregg Rockmann as the home side pushed for an equaliser, but they soon found themselves 2-0 down as Frantisek Bakrlik worked his way around the back of the home net to pop home.

Dean Skinns denied Pliskauskas well to keep things respectable, and the Cats soon pulled one back through Kapicka, only to concede within seconds to a good finish from Matt Towalski.

Cats were well in control in the second but slipped further behind as Towalski grabbed his second, but Nell responded to cut the deficit, and it could have been even better seconds later but the skipper’s bundled shot was forced wide.

The final period began with the visitors stretching their lead further through Bakrlik and Josh Bruce, but Hoog and Nell soon combined as the new skipper grabbed his second of the night to reduce the deficit once again.

Nell and Nicky Watt both went close as Cats pushed the tempo in the final few minutes, but Ladislav Harabin struck inside the final two minutes to seal victory.

The Wildcats now travel to Peterborough on Sunday night as their search for a win continues.