SWINDON Wildcats lifted the Autumn Cup on Thursday night after completing a thrilling 8-6 aggregate win over Leeds Knights in the final.

Leading 3-2 from the first leg at the Link Centre, Swindon made the most of their powerplay during the second leg to score three times and be crowned champions.

Reed Sayers had given Aaron Nell’s team the lead in the first before three unanswered Leeds goals put the Knights in control at the end of the second period.

However, an outstanding start to the third period – with powerplay strikes from Emil Svec and Balint Pakozdi as well as a successful penalty shot from Tomasz Malasinski – wrestled control of the final back towards the Wildcats.

Leeds pulled back within one in the 48th minute, but Edgars Bebris stepped up to seal the deal late on and help Swindon lift the club’s first trophy in two-and-a-half years.

Speaking to Adver Sport the morning after his team’s success, Nell said: “I’m very proud of the players. They’ve been so good over the past two or three months.

“It was an excellent game, Leeds were really good, and they gave us a run in the second period where they were excellent.

“We turned it around at the start of the third, and at the end of the day the boys got exactly what they deserved for how well we played.

“Especially in the first leg, we played so well, and also how well we’ve played over the last couple of months.”