ROBIN Kovar netted an early third-period go-ahead goal to steer Manchester Phoenix to a 5-1 victory over Swindon Wildcats.

A close-range finish from Kovar was added to by player/coach Tony Hand and Michal Psurny to secure the win which gives Phoenix the upper hand ahead of their second meeting in six days on Thursday night in the Challenge Cup semi-final second leg.

Phoenix had to come from behind twice against the Cats on Sunday as an early Steve Fone mistake gifted the first goal to Swindon’s Jan Kostal.

Frantisek Bakrlik brought the hosts level with an early powerplay goal in the second period but Swindon regained the lead with a fine Tomas Kana strike.

Once again Phoenix drew level with Hand skating the length of the ice to find Bobby Chamberlain wide open to slot past Cats netminder Stevie Lyle leaving all to play for in the final period.

Kovar slammed home a close-range finish before Hand thought he had doubled the home side's lead only for Cats' Lyle to kick the goal frame loose before the puck entered the net, much to the fans' disapproval.

Hand was not to be denied and minutes later he redirected a Michal Psurny feed past a rattled and scrambling Lyle before Psurny finished the scoring with a late powerplay strike.

Phoenix will be looking to complete a quick double over Swindon in tonight's home semi-final second leg in which the aggregate score is 3-3 after last month's first leg in Wiltshire.