Result:             7^th October 2007. MK Storm 2 v. Swindon 1

(0-0, 2-0, 0-1)

Milton Keynes cemented their league championship potential with a hard-won victory over Swindon , and now top the league with three straight successes.

The match started at a high tempo, and neither side slowed for the entire contest. Milton Keynes possibly started strongest, and when the visitors conceded penalties, MK looked threatening. But with both sides prone to errors in attack, and two highly competent defences on the ice, real chances were few and far between. In the final minutes of the period, MK managed to string some passes together, and Swindon were thankful for their netminder. Equally Chris Chaplen in the MK nets had to react quickly when Swindon broke out of defence.

MK started the second period with real purpose, and although the visitors remained strong in defence, MK looked confident of success. With Swindon short-handed, MK forced the pace, and Mitch Starkey's slapshot from the blueline was helped on its way to the bottom corner by a feathered deflection by Josh Nicklin in front (19:56). MK roared into the opposition and from the very next shift, Andrew Major swept a cross-ice pass to Mitch Starkey, and his blistering shot needed no deflection this time to hit the net (20:32). Swindon launched their own offensive, and although MK looked sound in defence, netminder Chris Chaplen was increasingly called upon as the period ended.

The final period started badly for MK with an early Swindon goal (32:28) giving them hope of salvaging the match. The game grew ever more tense, and both sides went close. But in the dying minutes of the match, MK found themselves double penalised, and with nothing to lose, and all to gain, Swindon hurled themselves at the MK net. Without Chris Chaplen at his most reactive and elastic best, they would surely have scored, but MK hung on to their slender lead, and retained their 100% record for the season.

  Swindon are clearly a side in transition, and no longer the powerhouse of old, but they will undoubtedly be a top four side this season. MK should take heart from a solid team effort and a victory won by hard work and determination rather than silky passing hockey. Next weekend they will need all their skill and determination when they face a much reinforced and powerful Guildford team.

MoM   Chris Chaplen 

SoG     Connor Goode

Shots on Goal: MK 23 Swindon 29 (MK N/M Chris Chaplen)

Penalties:          MK 10 Swindon 22

Mitch Starkey 1+1; Josh Nicklin 1+0; Andrew Major 0+1