Mixed fortunes for depleted Cats

A depleted Swindon Wildcats lost 1-0 to Romford Raiders on Sunday having picked up a first win of 2009 at home to Wightlink Raiders 24 hours earlier.

"We were badly depleted so the aim was always to win on Saturday and then see what we could do on Sunday," said player-coach Ryan Aldridge.

Aldridge scored an overtime winner against Wightlink as Swindon rallied from 2-0 down to run out 3-2 winners.

However, despite plenty of possession they could not find the net at Romford.

Cats went into the weekend without their hugely influential quartet of Matty Davies, Ben Davies, Jamie Hayes and Ciaran Long because of their Under-20 World Championship commitments.

In addition, Samuel Waller remained sidelined through injury, Shane Moore was banned and Jozef Kohut ineligible.

Aldridge said of the trip to Romford: "We travelled with only 11 skaters and that included Sam Feeney, who we called up from the development side, and he was outstanding.

"We battled and fought, and out-shot them, but it wasn't to be."

The victory against Wightlink was the Wildcats' first success in four games after conceding a total of 23 goals in their last three matches.

The Raiders took a 2-0 lead through Juraj Rusic and Alan Green before Swindon staged their fightback.

Nicky Watt pulled one back at the end of the second period and Robin Davison equalised in the third before Aldridge proved the hero 30 seconds into overtime.