Lightning snatched a dramatic penalty shot victory at second in the table Guildford Flames after showing they can compete with the best in the English Premier League.

And the win was largely due to two former Flames players who came back to haunt their former team – Gary Clarke who gave Lightning a dream start with a goal after 32 seconds - and goalie Alex Mettam who was unbeaten in the shoot out despite sustaining a nasty injury earlier in the game.

Clarke who had a frustrating year at Flames last season after several years success with Lightning could hardly had dreamed of a better start when he shot past Miroslav Hala on his first shift.

The goal was enough to see MK lead 1-0 at the first break – having outshot the hosts 14-11.

Flames managed to get back in the game when Nathan Rempel converted a penalty shot on 29mins 37secs but they could not find a way past Lightning again as the second session ended 1-1.

Neither side was giving anything away as MK started the third period with a man advantage – Martin Masa finishing off a slashing call from the end of the middle session.

With 53mins gone there was a moment of serious concern for Lightning when Mettam went down while making a save and was obviously badly hurt. With Barry Hollyhead still out with a sprained ankle, back-up netminder, Chris Gill, prepared to take his place, but Mettam played on.

The scores were still even at the end of regulation time and overtime settled nothing so it was on to a penalty shoot out in which Captain Courageous Adam Carr bagged the only goal for a 2-1 win – Monir Kalgoum and Andre Smulter both missing for Lightning and Masa and Lukas Smital failing for Flames.

Guildford Goals

29.37 Rempel, PS

MKL Goals

00.32 Clarke, Kalgoum, E

Guildford Penalties

08.47 Rempel, 2 mins, Roughing
08.47 Rempel, 2 mins, Roughing
17.36 Lamey, 2 mins, High Sticks
38.59 Masa, 2 mins, Slashing

MKL Penalties

08.47 Zatopek, 2 mins, Roughing
08.47 Zatopek, 2 mins, Roughing
21.38 Jamieson, 2 mins, Holding
27.45 Zatopek, 2 mins, Elbows

Shots on Goal

Guildford Flames – Hala – 14,12,18,4 = 48
MKL – Mettam – 11,13,8,1 = 33

Referee – Roman Szucs
Linesmen – Stephen Hogarth, Petr Popluhar