Following a disappointing start in the English National League Cup South Div 2 the Swindon ENL Wildcats got their campaign back on track with a 4-2 win against local rivals, the Bristol Pitbulls.

With both teams taking very few risks in the opening minutes it was Bristol who cracked first, when Joe Lock was penalised for tripping after 3:33. Five seconds later Swindon capitalised on the extra man, for the first time in three games, after Jamie Newton won an attacking face off back to Ian Clark, whose quick pass found Ryan Burgess unmarked, who did not hesitate in opening the scoring for the home team.

Having scored 23 goals in their three games prior in the ENL South Div 2 Cup, the Pitbulls pushed to find an equaliser, but Jamie Thompson in goal for Swindon, stood strong thanks to some resilient defending. The Wildcats hard work in defence transferred to attack as they doubled their lead after 16:18 of the first period. James Burnett’s pass found Joe Oliver unmarked in front of the net who had time and space to pick his spot and shoot past Bristol’s netminder, Laurence Lawson.

The second period saw a rejuvenated Bristol side come out firing and they were unlucky not to pull a goal back immediately, following a fine double save from Thompson in net, keeping the Wildcats lead at two. However, the home team could not hold their two goal advantage for long as Richard Hargreaves and Michael Smith combined to pull the deficit back at 25:55 to one for the remainder of the period.

Swindon seemingly put the game to bed in the third period, with Burgess scoring his second on 46:48 assisted by Andrew Coakley., and exactly two minutes later Newton, the Wildcats captain, extended the teams tally to four, with an unassisted goal.

Despite the Pitbulls hitting back through Luke Merrick with eight minutes remaining the Wildcats managed to hold on to inflict Bristol’s first defeat of the season.

Period Scores: 2-0, 0-1, 2-1

Shots on goal: Swindon - Jamie Thompson 2/34

Bristol -  Lawrence Lawson 4/29

Pen Mins: Swindon 24 Bristol 14

Swindon Scorers: Ryan Burgess 2+0, Jamie Newton & Joe Oliver 1+0

Andrew Coakley, James Burnett & Ian Clark 0+1

Swindon Man of Match: Daniel Smith