Swindon Wildcats advanced in the NIHL play-offs with a 4-3 overtime victory over Romford Raiders at the Better Link Centre on Saturday evening, Logan vande Meerakker scoring on the power play just seven seconds into overtime — from Wells and Villegas — to settle a match that had swung back and forth across all three periods and extra time.

Both sides scored two power play goals each. Swindon pulled their goalkeeper mid-second period. The lead changed hands three times. And then Baker's interference penalty at 58:14 gifted Swindon the power play they needed at the start of overtime, and vande Meerakker was clinical. A play-off match that deserved the dramatic finish it got.

First period — Swindon lead, Romford hit back on the power play

Villegas gave Swindon the lead at 11:36 — vande Meerakker and Nell assisting — before Bebris was penalised for tripping at 16:54. Laishram converted Romford's power play at 18:11 from Baker's assist to level at 1-1, and Coxhead was penalised for cross-checking at 18:44. The first period ended 1-1 with both sides having converted their power play opportunity and the match perfectly balanced.

A wild second period — three goals, a goalkeeper change, lead changes twice

The second period opened with a Swindon bench minor for too many men at 23:48, which Romford converted immediately. Sylvester scored the power play goal at 24:53 — Laishram and Coxhead assisting — to give Romford a 1-2 lead.

Coxhead was then penalised for hooking at 28:43, and Nell converted Swindon's second power play at 29:50 from Wells and Villegas to level at 2-2. Within two minutes of that equaliser, Romford's Hill scored at 31:42 from Ayliffe and Coxhead to give Romford the lead again at 2-3.

Then — with Swindon trailing 2-3 — they pulled Marr at 37:56 and brought him back on at 38:05 simultaneously as Hill was penalised for tripping. A tactical withdrawal designed to get the power play, it worked in the sense that Swindon now had a power play, but they couldn't convert it and the second period ended 2-3 to Romford.

Wells levels in the third — penalty sends it to overtime

Wells equalised at 49:22 from Griffiths and Bradley to make it 3-3, giving Swindon a level match heading into the final stages. Baker was penalised for interference at 58:14 with under two minutes remaining — the penalty that would ultimately decide the match. The third period ended 3-3 and overtime commenced.

Seven seconds — vande Meerakker on the power play

The power play carried over from Baker's 58:14 penalty into overtime. Seven seconds in, vande Meerakker scored from Wells and Villegas to make it 4-3. Match over. Swindon through. The Villegas-Wells-vande Meerakker triangle — which had combined on the first and overtime goals — decisive to the last.

Result: Swindon Wildcats 4 – 3 Romford Raiders AET
Swindon Wildcats scorers: Villegas 11:36 (A: vande Meerakker, Nell) — Nell 29:50 PP (A: Wells, Villegas) — Wells 49:22 (A: Griffiths, Bradley) — vande Meerakker 60:07 PP OT (A: Wells, Villegas)
Romford Raiders scorers: Laishram 18:11 PP (A: Baker) — Sylvester 24:53 PP (A: Laishram, Coxhead) — Hill 31:42 (A: Ayliffe, Coxhead)
Goaltenders: Renny Marr (SWI) | Cole Ceci (ROM)