After a tough weekend last time out, the Wildcats bounced back into action with a big four-point weekend against the Raiders thanks to a 7-3 win at the Link Centre on Saturday evening before a 6-1 victory on the road in Romford on Sunday night. With three goals and two man-of-the-match awards over the weekend, the Cats were led by Jordan Kelsall on their way to back-to-back wins.

Saturday evening was the first opportunity the Cats had to put the Tigers defeats behind them and a quick start to settle the team down was essential. Loris Taylor was on hand to ensure this was the case and opened the scoring up at 01:57, with the assists going to Jack Goodchild and Adam Jones.

In the middle of the opening period, Loris Taylor this timed turn provider after he fired a pass into the slot for Tomasz Malasinski to fire home his first goal of the Spring Cup at 11:26. The Wildcats didn’t let up and at 16:11 they added their third of the night. With Raiders D man Ross Connolly in the penalty box the Wildcat’s powerplay got to work. Tomasz Malasinski linked up with Balint Pakozdi to pass the puck to Jordan Kelsall who fired in his first of the weekend.

As the clock was dying down there was still time for the Wildcats to add a fourth goal when Loris Taylor scored his second of the game at 19:21 with the assists going to Ben Davies and Sam Bullas. A 4-0 period was the perfect start for the Wildcats and the Raiders knew they needed to change things up, so replaced Ethan James in net with Bradley Windebank for the start of the middle period.

Into the middle stanza and the Cats added to their lead with another well-worked powerplay goal, this time Chris Jones fired home from the left side thanks to assists from Aaron Nell and Tomasz Malasinski. On the next powerplay, a blue-line turnover allowed Raiders forward Brandon Ayliffe to skate in shorthanded and score the Raiders first of the night. The goal was cancelled out 54 seconds later when Jordan Kelsall converted the powerplay and his second of the evening.

As the period was coming to a close, Harry Gulliver scored a very well worked individual goal to make the scoreline 6-2 going into the third and final period of hockey. The Raiders skated hard and were eager to get back into the game, at 47:28 they added their third goal through an unassisted Aaron Connolly strike. Seconds later Connolly had the puck in the net once more but referee Paul Brooks ruled the goal out after the net was off its moorings. Swindon controlled the game well and the final nail in the coffin was placed at 54:56 when Balint Pakozdi scored the Cats 7th and final goal of the evening.

Heading into Sunday, the Wildcats put on a powerplay show with five of the six goals coming on the man advantage. However, it would be the hosts who opened the scoring on the night thanks to a Brandon Ayliffe goal at 9:49, also coming with the extra man. The Cats tied the game up through Matthew Myers at 12:33, thanks to assists from Ben Davies and Toms Rutkis. As the opening period ended with a tied game at 1-a-piece.

In the middle period, the Cats converted their second powerplay goal when Balint Pakozdi scored his second goal of the weekend at 25:56. More powerplay strikes landed for the visitors at 35:41 and 36:14 with Jordan Kelsall and Toms Rutkis scoring respectively to increase the Cats lead to 1-4 at the end of the second period.

Wanting to ensure the points would be leaving Romford with the Wildcats, Aaron Nell and his men controlled the third period and were solid defensively. As the game came to an end, and the Raiders were icing their 9th period of the weekend, there was just time for two more late goals at 54:58 and 59:47.

First Ben Davies scored the only even-strength goal of the game with the assists being provided by Matthew Myers and Toms Rutkis before Jack Goodchild scored right at the death with an assist going to captain Sam Bullas, and thus completing the 6-1 win and a four-point weekend.

This weekend sees the Cats back on home ice on Friday night with the visit of the Telford Tigers before returning to Romford to take on the Raiders this Saturday afternoon.