SWINDON Wildcats’ quest to land the NIHL South One title received a timely boost tonight after they defeated Basingstoke Bison 4-3 away from home.
Wildcats had won just two of their first eight fixtures in December, dropping them to third in the division despite a positive start to the season.
But Wildcats’ poor run of form perhaps turned a corner this evening as Aaron Nell’s men reversed a one-goal middle period deficit to record two valuable league points.
Wildcats made a near perfect start to tonight’s game when Sam Bullas netted with just four minutes played following a pass from Nell.
There was little opportunity to enjoy the lead however as a hooking penalty on Max Birbraer resulted in Alex Sampford recording Bison’s equaliser.
Loris Taylor lit the lamp to reestablish Cats’ one-goal lead late in the first period bit the middle stanza would prove to be more effective for the hosts.
A pair of quick goals saw the Bison go from a goal down, to a goal up when Alex Sampford was able to complete his hat-trick. Adam Harding was proving to be a bit of a thorn in the Wildcats side with two Assists but it would the Wildcats who left the building with the points thanks to an inspired third period comeback.
Remarkably, Wildcats repeated Bison’s heroics by striking twice in just 35 seconds, firstly through Sam Jones who had the entire net to aim for when the puck trickled towards him rushing off the blue-line and Alex Mettam was slow to react.
Just seconds later the game was sealed when a massive defensive mistake between the Bison D and netminder saw the puck turned over to Chris Jones who was alone in front of a complete empty net to fire home and give the Wildcats a deserved and hard fought victory.
Bison failed to find a way past Renny Marr afterwards, meaning Nell’s troops enter Saturday night’s home tie against Peterborough with confidence behind them.
