SWINDON Wildcats were unable to claim a win at the Link Centre as they were beaten 6-5 by the league leaders Telford Tigers.

Despite taking an early lead through Sam Bullas and a second period hat-trick from Jan Kostal plus a late effort from Tomasz Malasinski wasn’t enough for the Wildcats.

The first period was an eventful affair at the Link Centre as the Wildcats drew first blood in the opening minute of the game.

Floyd Taylor broke down the left hand side, before passing the puck to Bullas who finished on the half turn to hand the hosts the lead.

Aaron Nell’s side were then given another advantage when Sam Zajec was given a five minute penalty plus game for high sticking.

Captain Jan Kostal thought he had managed to double Swindon’s score halfway through the first twenty minutes when the puck found itself in the net.

However the 36-year-old then had his goal ruled out by the officials as the puck was adjudged to have come off of his skate.

Swindon began to look a little ropey from here and soon played the price when Doug Clarkson levelled the game in the 13th minute.

After some exchanges from both sides the Wildcats were served a bitter blow when they fell behind courtesy of Jason Silverthorn who added Telford’s second with two seconds to spare.

The second period saw Swindon trail by a solitary goal, but that wasn’t the case for long as Kostal got a his second to level the game once again.

After a 10 minute period of pressure from both sides Kostal completed his hat-trick in the 36th minute to put his side into the lead for the second time in the match.

However Swindon conceded late again Clarkson registered his second of the game to take it to 4-3 into the final period.

With Swindon protecting a slender lead in the final period they would have had their heads in their hands when Clarkson was allowed to shoot from the left to level the score one minute in.

The momentum was firmly with the visitors at this point and things went from bad to worse for Nell’s team as Adam Taylor added a fifth for the Tigers.

Two minutes after their fourth Taylor was allowed to shoot from the same position on the ice, which ended in the same situation for the hosts, with Stevie Lyle picking the puck out of his net.

The game wasn’t done there as the Wildcats were able to dig out a 51st minute equaliser through Malasinski, which marked a second assist for new signing Phil Hill.

Swindon found themselves under sustained spells of pressure and were dealt a devastating blow when Milan Kolena snatched victory for the Tigers in the 56th minute.