Wildcats start 2nd leg on level terms.

Swindon Wildcats took to home ice to host a midweek semi final Cup fixture against the visiting Manchester Phoenix. The first fxiture of a two legged affair did not take long to open and within minutes the score was broken.

An early powerplay goal would see the Phoenix find the night’s opener, as D-man Frantisek Bakrlik would collect on an initial blocked shot and quickly find his first through a screen of home players.

However it took just minutes for Swindon to answer back with some good team chemistry from Tomasz Malasinksi and Aaron Nell, of whom the later would shoot across goal for a tied game.

An end to end game took its way into the second period after several attempts by both sides, the away side would then net courtesy of Bobby Chamberlain. The forward would skate across the face of goal which would stretch across netminder Lyle to somehow wrap the puck into the back of the net..

A dominant passage from Swindon would consistenly test Stephen Fone at the opposite end but after doing everything but score, the visitors would hold out the ‘Cats after two periods of play.

The hosts however did not have to wait long into the third, as an early powerplay would see previous scorer Nell sent on his way by new signing Tomas Kana, before shooting from a tight angle and tucking in the rebound to tie the game once more.

The game would hold its next talking point minutes later, with the Phoenix were awarded a penalty shot for a goal line hold up. But with Lyle spreading the pads down low, previous scorer Bakrlik would be held out for the go ahead goal.

The following face off would then see Manchester take the lead in strange circumstances, with Michal Psurny shooting across goal and seeing his shot deflect off both Lyle and then defenseman Alex Symonds to cross the line and give Manchester the lead for a third time.

A ‘tit-for-tat’ battle continued as with just minutes left in the period, a shot from ‘Cats defenseman Shane Moore would then take a well guided redirect from Adam Harding and wrap up the game with a 3-3 score.

Being a 2 legged cup fixture meant a tied score would hold at the final buzzer and both sides would come away this night with a hard fought 3-3 to take to Manchester.

Both teams will now look to the second leg to find a winner however Swindon will firstly turn their attentions to this coming weekend, when the side welcome the Sheffield Steeldogs for another exciting EPL clash.