SWINDON face an uphill task to make the English Premier League play-off semis after losing 2-1 to Manchester in the teams' quarter-final first leg tonight.
Slava Koulikov opened the scoring for the Phoenix at the Link Centre with 34 seconds remaining in the first period.
That advantage was doubled at 28.03 courtesy of Stephen Wallace, before Wildcats replied through Jaroslav Cesky at 39.29.
The second leg takes place at Altrincham Ice Dome tomorrow (face-off 5.30pm).
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