MISSED chances cost Swindon Wildcats dear as Sheffield took a first-period lead - import Peter Slamiar scoring the crucial goal.

Sheffield were without star British players Stuart Brittle and Robert Dowd plus influential netminder Pasi Raitanen, replaced by Paul Jones.

It was the home side who started strongest but they failed to beat Cats' netminder Nathan Craze with their early attacks.

Wildcats could have taken the lead when both sides were reduced to four players apiece with Shane Moore and Oliver Barron sitting out penalties but Joel Petkoff and Lee Richardson were both denied by young netminder Paul Jones.

Jan Vrtik was the next player in the sin bin but Swindon successfully killed off the penalty.

Petkoff went close again, denied once more by Jones, before Sheffield struck the go-ahead goal at 15.22.

And on 18 minutes Matty Davies missed a golden opportunity to level, squandering an open net chance.

SECOND PERIOD REPORT TO FOLLOW...