SWINDON Panthers gave their new coaching team of Cliff Alexander and ex-Wildcat Drew Chapman the perfect start, as they secured a 5-3 victory at Slough in their season opener.

The home side scored within 19 seconds of face-off and were the more physical and technical outfit in the opening 10 minutes.

But Bartosz Widawski levelled matters at 1-1 in the 11th minute, which was followed soon after by an effort from Ian Richards as Panthers ended the period with a slender 2-1 lead.

The fast and physical action continued in the second period and both netminders pulled off a number of great saves to keep their respective sides in the game.

Satans netted five minutes in before Swindon then found themselves shorthanded for the remainder of the period, as the referee handed out penalty after penalty.

The hosts took advantage as they went 3-2 up but Richards hit back in the dying seconds of the period to set up a tense final 20 minutes.

All penalties had been served by the start of the final period and Panthers took the lead once more as Richards completed his hat-trick after 47 minutes.

Satans threw caution to the wind but this ultimately proved their undoing as veteran Scott Gough rippled the net after 55 minutes from Matt Crouch’s pass, making sure of the two points.