SWINDON Wildcats put in a dogged performance as they twice came from behind to record a 5-3 win away to Sheffield Steeldogs.

It took just two minutes for Adrian Palak to give the hosts the lead, but strikes from Tomasz Malasinski and Lee Richardson gave Swindon a first period lead.

That was turned on its head in the second period as Stanislav Lascek and Macaulay Heywood put the Steeldogs back in the driving seat.

However, strikes from Phil Hill and Max Birbraer put the Wildcats back in front in the third period before Robin Kovar wrapped up a four-point weekend with less than two minutes left.

Aaron Nell was able to welcome Birbraer back into his roster following his suspension, but Sam Bullas and Kyle Smith remained sidelined for the visitors.

It was an opening of little opportunities for either side but when the first one presented itself to the hosts’ Adrian Palak in the third minute, he made no mistake as he drilled his shot from the left and Stevie Lyle was unable to raise his stick hand in time to prevent it finding the back of the net.

With Lewis Baldwin in the sin bin, Swindon were able to find a way to restore parity as Robin Kovar dropped the puck to Malasinski, who fired his shot hard into the top corner, giving James Hadfield little chance.

Returning Birbraer and Kovar were linking up well for the hosts, with the latter forcing two good saves from Hadfield in quick succession.

Lyle had to be alert in the 18th minute when Stanislav Lascek found the space to drive straight at his goal and after the netminder smothered the Slovakian’s shot, it was Malasinski back doing the dirty work to clear the puck off the line.

There was confusion as Swindon took the lead less than a minute before the first break as the referee looked to have blown for a penalty, Lewis Bell heading for the sin bin for charging, but with the puck finding its way into the Sheffield net in the goalmouth melee, it stood – Richardson being awarded with the telling touch.

With the hosts having seen out the remainder of their penalty at the start of the second period, Swindon had the chance to further extend their lead through Jonas Höög.

The Swede showed composure on the turn in front of Hadfield’s net but despite beating the Sheffield netminder, the puck cannoned off the upright and to away to safety.

With Neil Liddiard in the sin bin for slashing, Sheffield took advantage to restore parity in the 34th minute, with Lascek being afforded too much time and after driving towards the net, he fired past an unsighted Lyle.

The hosts were back in front before the second period was out as, after seeing Jordan Kelsall go close for Swindon, the Steeldogs countered and Heywood shot through a host of bodies to beat Lyle from the left.

It was all square four minutes into the final period when Charnock went into the bin for a holding penalty and Swindon made the most of the extra man as Malasinski dropped the puck to Phil Hill, who couldn’t miss from close range.

Sheffield were dealt a blow a minute later when Bosas was handed a five plus game penalty for checking to the head on Birbraer off the puck.

It proved costly as Swindon were back ahead less than two minutes later, as Bribraer marked his return with a goal.

Wildcats D-man Neil Liddiard ended the game in the sin bin after receiving a two plus 10 penalty for checking from behind on Tomas Brcko.

With Sheffield pulling their netminder in the final two minutes, Kovar picked up a loose puck to fire into the empty net and wrap up the victory.

The game ended on a sour note as a triple fight broke out, sparked by Jan Kostal jumping in to protect Lyle with Steeldogs’ Callum Pattison, with the latter receiving a five plus game penalty.

Steeldogs man of the match: Lewis Bell

Wildcats man of the match: Stevie Lyle