Denied a double

From the Swindon Advertiser, first published Monday 30th Jan 2006.

WILDCATS just failed to complete a weekend double over reigning English Premier League champions Milton Keynes Lightning.

After taking the honours 3-2 in Milton Keynes the previous evening Swindon npower Wildcats were on course for the double last night at the Link Centre.

But they conceded a powerplay goal in the last period with just under four minutes left and had to settle for a 3-3 draw.

It was disappointing to go so close to another win but considering they had been under the cosh for half of the second session and most of the last a draw was a fair result.

However, three points out of a possible four this weekend was a great boost for Wildcats as they battle for a top eight spot and one of those elusive play-off spots in mid-March.

The win and draw lifted Swindon into joint fifth place alongside the Lightning and only four points off second place.

Before the return match with Milton Keynes at the Link Centre last night one minutes silence was observed in memory of Dave Richardson, a true champion of ice hockey at all levels in Swindon. In a financial role he had held office in the junior, senior and womens clubs as well as being a regular on the stage as a timekeeper for a host of games over the past two decades.

Most of the action was confined to a fiesty first period where it looked as though scores were being settled from the previous night in the Planet Ice Arena in Buckinghamshire.

But in between whistle-happy referee Blayne Evans trying to take centre stage, five goals were also netted.

The visitors went in front when Adam Walker was dispossessed in mid-ice and the puck was wiped up the ice to fast skating Gary Clarke who netted at 6.03.

But Wildcats came storming back with three class goals past former Swindon Cougars and Phoenix netminder Lee Lansdowne.

Richie Hargreaves drilled a superb shot into the net at 7.43 from a brilliant Wayne Fiddes reverse pass.

Justyn Schollar then accepted a long-raking pass from the outstanding Mikael Juhlin to crash home goal number two at 13.36.

Twenty-seven seconds later Schollar went through the visitors defence like a knife through butter to add the third.

However, when netminder Chris Douglas failed to hold a Clarke shot at 15.29 Chris McEwen netted the loose puck.

The second period saw plenty of huff and puff but few clear cut chances for either side.

Wildcats were at times chasing shadows in the last period but stuck to their guns and defended valiantly.

Marek Hornak went close twice early in the session but just as it looked another win was on the cards Milton Keynes struck again as Clarke netted on the powerplay at 56.02 to deny Swindon back-to-back wins.

n Match details Cats scorers: Schollar 2+0; R Hargreaves 1+0; Fiddes 0+2; Mikael Juhlin, Michael Hargreaves, Adam Walker and Andy Shurmer 0+1. Period scores: 3-2; 0-0; 0-1. Shots on goal: Cats 22; MK 29. Penalty minutes: Cats 38; Mk 44. Cats Man of Match: Justyn Shollar.

n TWENTY-FOUR hours earlier Swindon had produced a battling performance in Milton Keynes to secure victory.

Prior to this season Cats had not beaten Lightning since their return to the English Premier League in 2002/03 but on Saturday night they registered their second road win of the season at the Planet Ice Arena.

In a hard fought opening period riddled with penalties former Swindon IceLords player Simon Howard gave Lightning the lead at 10.17.

But despite being outshot 16-9 two goals in the final three minutes of the period gave Swindon the lead.

Slovak Juraj Rusic bagged the first beating Lee Lansdowne at 17.07 with assists going to Lee Brathwaite and Richie Hargreaves.

Rusic then turned provider at 19.27 despite Cats being shorthanded for fellow Slovak Marek Hornak to score.

The second period was a much closer affair and just after the half-hour mark Cats extended their lead on the powerplay with a first goal of the season for defenceman Andy Shurmer from the blueline at 32.54.

Less than three minutes later Lightning's new Swedish import forward Stefan Ketola cut the Wildcats advantage to 3-2.

The final period was a very tight affair with both defences well on top and both netminders in fine form to repel 10 shots each.

Match details Cats scorers: Rusic 1+1; Hornak and Shurmer 1+0; R Hargreaves 0+2; Brathwaite 0+1. Period scores: 1-2; 1-1; 0-0. Shots on goal: MK 39; Cats 29. Penalty minutes: MK 20; Cats 26. Cats Man of Match: Adam Brittle.

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