ICE HOCKEY: Tough weekend as Wildcats suffer narrow back-to-back defeats (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Netminder Skinns stars as Wildcats are beaten on penalties

11:41am Monday 15th October 2012 in Sport

English Premier League.

Bracknell Bees 3 Swindon Wildcats 2 (after penalties).

THE Swindon Wildcats were thwarted by sudden-death penalties at the Hive on Sunday evening as Ryan Aldridge's side lost their second game of the weekend in overtime.

"It's been a tough weekend with two over-time losses and over the last couple of years, we haven't been too good in them but to go to a shoot-out is obviously a lottery and I thought Skinnsy (Dean Skinns) was phenomenal tonight.

"For us to come here and play so well we've just got to take the plus points out of the game."

The match could not have started any better for the visitors who were ahead after just 16 seconds thanks to Jonas Höög.

But, in truth, both sides looked jaded from their efforts the previous night.

Marcel Petran equalised for the Bees and while the Wildcats' Paul Swindlehurst was sin-binned for five minutes the home side went 2-1 up thanks to Martin Masa.

Despite more Bees pressure, it was Höög who brought his team level at the end of the first period.

The second and third sessions were largely lethargic, goalless affairs until the Bees finally kicked into action with five minutes remaining and Skinns had to regularly come to the Wildcats' rescue.

It was Skinns again in overtime, saving bravely from Rob Lamey, Thompson and Lukas Smital.

The game then went to penalties with successive players missing their opportunities and it wasn't until sudden death was reached that the Bees were able to take the extra point, sealing another night of overtime disappointment for the Wildcats.