A third period onslaught from Lightning sent Swindon Wildcats home with a 6-2 defeat ringing in their ears.

But until the home side hit their fourth goal to put clear distance between them and the opposition Wildcats looked in with a chance, if undeserved, of taking something from the encounter.

Swindon took a shock lead after 2min 40secs when Sam Bullas scored from close range – the goal set up by Egid Bauba.

However it did not take long for Lightning to get back on terms when Gary Clarke was the provider for Adam Brittle to net with a shot that goalie James Hadfield will have been disappointed not to have stopped.

Hadfield made up for the goal though three minutes later while the sides were four on four - Ross Green and Joe Baird in the sin bin - as he made a save from a Lukas Zatopek blueliner look easy.

There were just 46 seconds remaining on the first period when Michael Farn found a gap to the right of Hadfield to put Lightning in front.

With no further goals in the second session there was still all to play for at the start of the third session. Lightning’s cause was not helped when they lost Gary Clarke to injury.

And it was Swindon who registered first when Bullas bagged his second at 46mins 45secs.

But within 27 seconds Lightning were back in front, courtesy of an Adam Carr goal.

Carr then made it 4-2 from Nick Poole’s pass at 50mins 21secs before a Zatopek powerplay rocket shot took the tally to five at 56mins 06secs.

Leigh Jamieson’s behind the net pass to Monir Kalgoum resulted in the sixth goal with 22 seconds remaining.

By Paul Brookman

MKL Goals

05.36 Brittle, Clarke, Kalgoum, EH
19.14 Farn, Heron, Wales, EH
47.07 Carr, Smulter, Poole, EH
50.21 Carr, Poole, Smulter, EH
56.06 Zatopek, Christie, Smulter, PP
59.38 Kalgoum, Jamieson, Line, EH

Swindon Goals

02.40 Bullas, Bauba, EH
46.45 Bullas, Knight, EH

MKL Penalties

07.02 Green, 2 mins, Roughing
23.38 Wales, 2 mins, Roughing
23.38 Wales, 2 mins, Roughing
23.48 Jamieson, 2 mins, High Sticks
28.31 Line, 2 mins, Slashing
36.39 Heron, 2 mins, Boarding
42.59 Clarke, 2 mins High Sticks

Swindon Penalties

07.02 Baird, 2 mins, Roughing
23.38 Foord, 2 mins, Roughing
23.38 Foord, 2 mins, Roughing
21.32 Baird, 2 mins, Roughing
28.31 Watt, 2 mins, Slashing
33.39 Bullas, 2 mins, Shashing
55.18 Baird, 2 mins, Cross Checking

Shots on Goal

MKL – Mettam – 4,11,16 = 31
Swindon – Hadfield – 15,13,17 = 45

Referee – Blaine Evans
Linesmen – Jason Earle, Rob Adams