High-flying Jets get their revenge (From Swindon Advertiser)

High-flying Jets get their revenge

7:30am Monday 2nd January 2012 in Ice Hockey

LIKE most of the nation, the Swindon Wildcats were suffering a New Year’s Day hangover yesterday - but theirs only materialised in the third period of a disappointing defeat at Slough Jets.

Ryan Aldridge’s side had stunned the English Premier League’s second-placed side in a brilliant 4-2 home win at the Link Centre on Friday night.

And 48 hours later, after a quiet New Year’s Eve for the players, Swindon were again threatening to cause an upset before collapsing in the final period and eventual returning back down the M4 on the wrong end of a 7-2 defeat.

The Cats had come out on top in a see-saw battle in the first clash between the sides and the two rivals were at it again in what appeared to be a second nip-and-tuck contest last night.

Swindon broke the deadlock this time with Jonas Hoog popping up to convert at 13.13 with Jarislav Cesky and Michal Pinc assisting.

Adam Calder equalised in the final minute of the first period and less than three minutes into the second session the hosts moved in front for the first time when Doug Sheppard converted Dan Davies’ pass on a powerplay.

Swindon quickly restored parity when Aaron Nell slotted in Swindon’s second goal at 25.20 with Paul Swindlehurst the architect.

But the Cats ran into more penalty trouble late in the period and the Jets capitalised again with Darius Pliskauskas rattling in the hosts’ third at 27.08 to send Slough into the final break 3-2 to the good.

So it was all to play as the third period began but the Wildcats quickly capitulated in alarming fashion.

Less then three minutes into the frame, Mindaugas Kieras bagged his first goal of the evening with Davies again the provider alongside Calder.

Little more than 30 seconds later and it was essentially game over as Sheppard prodded in his second to make it 5-2.

Pliskauskas deepened the travelling gloom by completing his brace at 47.51 and the Lithuanian then sealed a hat-trick as the Cats poured forward in a futile attempt to rescue something from the game.