THE Bespoke Guardians Swindon Wildcats picked up three points from a possible four against Leeds Knights in National Ice Hockey League action last weekend.

Aaron Nell’s men lost 3-2 in a rollercoaster of a penalty shoot-out at home on Saturday night before battling to a 4-3 victory away the next night in Yorkshire.

In Saturday night’s opening period, neither team could find their way past Dean Skinns or Sam Gospel in the respective net - and it took until almost half way through the allotted time for the first goal to come for Leeds. Kieron Brown dropped the puck back for Ethan Hehir to crack into the top corner at 29:07.

Leeds’ advantage lasted only four minutes though as Nell fired a slapshot through a cluster of bodies to tie the game up at one.

Eddie Bebris nudged the Wildcats ahead on the powerplay at 42:19, but Swindon couldn’t hang onto their leads as the Knights equalised with a minute and three seconds to go.

Following no goal in extra-time, Swindon found the net through Tomasz Malasinski in the shoot-out, but two scores without reply from Adam Barnes and Lewis Houston saw the bonus point travel back to Yorkshire.

Aiming to respond against the unbeaten Knights, Swindon made the worst possible start when Leeds scored through Brandon Whistle after just 12 seconds.

Nell’s men showed good character to stay in the game though and responded through Emil Svec in the ninth minute of the first period.

And it was a brilliant second period that ultimately helped the visitors pull away. Svec doubled his personal and team’s tally at 28:21 on the powerplay before Balint Pakozdi netted at 36:53.

Tomasz Malasinski put the Wildcats 4-1 up with less than 15 minutes remaining, only for two late Leeds goals from Brown to set hearts racing.

And despite having to spend two of the final three minutes on the penalty kill, the Wildcats managed to close out the game.