GUILDFORD Flames burnt the fingers of the Swindon Wildcats as they completed a 4-2 win at the Link Centre.

Two first period goals in the space of two minutes from Janis Ozolins and Andrew McKinney had Guildford in front before Carlo Finucci and Tomasz Malasinki hauled the hosts back level before the end of the first period.

After an entertaining but goalless second period Guildford had themselves back in front as Andrew Melachrino struck on the 50th minute before Jens Eriksson completed the scoring with five second left on the clock.

Swindon headed into the game on the back of two perfect weekends but were behind against the run of play in the 6th minute.

Daniel Meyers, in the centre of the ice, picked out Ozolins with a forward pass and the Latvian was afforded too much time as he fired home.

The visitors’ lead was doubled in the eighth minute when Ozolins turned provider. From behind Stevie Lyle’s net he was able to pick out Mckinney unmarked at the front post and the Canadian was able to lift the puck into the opposite corner.

Aaron Nell called a timeout and it had the desired effect as Swindon were able to pull a goal back through Finucci in the 12th minute when he made the most of the space down the right wing and fired well past Richard Ullberg.

Swindon were back on level terms four minutes before the break as they made the most of Lundin heading to the bin for interference.

Höög picked up the puck on the right and, despite a bad first touch, passed the puck goalwards and Malasinski read it well to turn home.

Neither side were able to add to the scoreboard in a second period that picked up in tempo and displayed some high quality hockey.

Despite Guildford out-shooting their hosts after the break, it was the Wildcats who had the better chances to take the lead.

In the 26th minute Swindon broke through Finucci, who found Malasinski charging at the net but the Pole was unable to get his effort on goal.

With Neil Liddiard in the bin for holding, Höög and Jan Kostal were able to catch Guildford on another break but the Czech centre was unable to apply the finishing touch.

With the crowd responding well to the quality of hockey that was on show, Swindon attempted to make those cheers louder when Höög found Malasinski with a great pass forward and the Pole was able to play in Nell who was unable to find a way past Ullberg.

It was Guildford who got their noses back in front halfway through the third period as Jeremy Lundin fired in a shot from the blueline and Melachrino was on hand to tip the puck past Lyle from close range.

Swindon pushed for a second equaliser but struggled to break down Guildford and, with Lyle pulled for the final 36 seconds, Eriksson intercepted a pass and kept his composure to find the net and wrap up the scoring.

Wildcats man of the match: Adam Harding Flames man of the match: Jens Eriksson