11:11pm Sunday 14th March 2010
By Ned Payne
GUTSY Swindon Wildcats produced a superb backs-to-the-wall display to beat high flyers Slough and inject fresh impetus into their play-off drive.
The nerve-jangling 3-2 home win over the Jets tonight saw Swindon record only their second four-point weekend of the English Premier League campaign, and draw level on points with eighth-placed rivals Bracknell Bees.
Ryan Aldridge’s men beat third-placed Guildford Flames 3-2 at the Link Centre yesterday evening, but having lost to Slough in five previous encounters this season, few could have foreseen a second victory on the bounce for Ryan Aldridge’s men, and the dramatic manner in which the win unfolded.
After Lee Richardson struck a decent chance against the post in the early stages, the hosts took the lead on the powerplay at 12.19, when Jan Krajicek’s pass was helped into the bottom corner by Canadian import Jason Cassells.
Wildcats were put under extreme pressure in the second period, having to contend with penalties for Krajicek and Lee Richardson, and though Chris Douglas pulled off a number of excellent stops, the home side’s goal was leading a charmed life at times.
Back on the ice, Richardson delivered a hammer blow to the visitors at 38.35 as he picked up a clearing pass from Krajicek, cut inside and beat netminder Gregg Rockman low to his left to make it 2-0.
Jets‘ frustrations boiled over at the end of the second period and Swindon twisted the knife further after the resumption, when Richardson pulled back for Jozef Kohut to swipe into the net.
The visitors hit back almost immediately through a soft goal from Ciaran Long at 43.59, and when Carl Thompson finished off a goalmouth scramble at 46.49, the prospect of a home victory hung in the balance.
Slough peppered the Swindon goal in the final 10 minutes and the tension around the Link Centre became almost unbearable at 58.17, when Krajicek was ordered off the ice for delay of game.
Jets pulled Rockman in favour of another attacker but Douglas and his three teammates somehow kept the visitors out to take a stunning victory.
Player-coach Ryan Aldridge said: “It’s unbelievable. The teams we had to face this weekend were two of the best teams in the league.
“The boys stuck with it tonight and didn’t get intimidated. We played awesome and our penalty kill was unbelievable.”
Matt Foord, Krajicek and Kohut were on the scoresheet as Swindon beat Guildford Flames at the Link Centre on Saturday.
Wildcats’ rivals, Bracknell Bees, defeated Romford Raiders 9-6 at home on Saturday but a 7-3 loss at third-placed Manchester Phoenix tonight kept Swindon’s play-off hopes very much alive.
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