Wildcats hit five past high-flying Slough (From Swindon Advertiser)

Wildcats hit five past high-flying Slough

11:02pm Wednesday 15th February 2012 in Local By Ned Payne

A SECOND-PERIOD blitz helped Swindon hold off the challenge of Slough and record a 5-3 victory at the Link Centre last night.

Goals from Aaron Nell (2) and Czech imports Michal Pinc (2) and Jaroslav Cesky saw Wildcats pick up two vital English Premier League points against their high-flying visitors.

Few chances were carved out by either side in the opening 10 minutes, with a barnstorming charge from head coach Ryan Aldridge and a rising drive from Slough’s Adam Calder the closest the match came to a goal.

However, at 10.53 home forward Nell broke the deadlock, capitalising from close range at the second time of asking as he lifted the puck high into the net.

The lead barely lasted five minutes. Calder, a constant attacking threat, sent a skidding effort goalwards that Dean Skinns could not stop, and the motoring Doug Sheppard was on hand to tap the loose puck into the net at full stretch (16.20).

Nicky Watt dived in from the right but his shot lacked power, before Wildcats failed to make the most of a powerplay in their favour as the period came to a close.

The second period began in explosive fashion when less than two minutes in, Slough’s Ryan Watt ripped Cesky’s shirt from its moorings and delivered a series of brutal hooks that sent his bloodied opponent straight into the locker room for treatment.

Swindon’s response, though, was perfect. Exactly 30 seconds after play resumed, Pinc seized on a loose puck to make it 2-1, and at 24.20, Loris Taylor flew forward and teed up Nell to his left, the British favourite fizzing his effort home with relish.

The five-minute burst was completed when Pinc converted a wrap-around goal that netminder Gregg Rockman should have done better with, and suddenly the Jets looked in danger of a hiding.

Wildcats had a fifth goal disallowed before their opponents steadied the ship, and Skinns had to be at his best to keep out a couple of Slough efforts as the clock wound down.

Nevertheless, the visitors still managed to find the net at 34.32, as an enormous ruckus in front of goal resulted in Aaron Connolly forcing the puck over the line.

A comeback became a real possibility at 46.21 when Dan Davies’ backhand strike dribbled in, and Swindon survived an almighty scare when Skinns allowed the puck to jump free of his grasp, but he stopped it just in time.

At 53.56, Cesky made the points safe. Aaron Nell steamed in on goal and after he was denied by Rockman, the Czech, on one knee, poked into the left corner.

Swindon are next in action at the weekend, when they face two away matches againstMilton Keynes and Guildford respectively.