English Premier Ice Hockey League

Milton Keynes Lightning 4

Swindon Wildcats 3

TOMASZ Malasinski and Jonas Hoog were among the scorers as the battling Cats were edged out to Smith Recycling Milton Keynes on Saturday.

Lightning ensured they will go into the Christmas holiday still very much in contention for the English Premier League title with a well-earned 4-3 victory at MK Arena.

Wildcats have sometimes proved to be a difficult proposition for Lightning in recent years and it was the case again with the hosts managing a two goal lead before Aaron Nell’s outfit produced a late scare with a 56th minute strike.

The success did not come without cost though – Bobby Chamberlain taken out of the game with a third period heavy check by Mark Smith which sent him crashing into the boards behind the Swindon goal.

Referee Kevin Ward and his fellow officials missed the incident, however, and no penalty was called.

That incensed the crowd and there was almost equal anger when a few minutes later Lewis Hook had to withdraw after a similar incident.

Again no penalty was called, but Hook was able to return to the game and punish Swindon in best possible way.

It was the visitors who took an early lead - an error by Michael Farn who coughed up the puck to Polish international Tomasz Malasinski in the Lightning offensive zone led to the goal.

MK then had to defend a two minute hooking penalty on Hölli in the 11th minute – it was not until the final 30 seconds or so that Wildcats threatened on the powerplay.

In the second session, Griffin, set up by Adam Carr and Hölli, burst up the left and unleashed a cracking unbeatable shot which hit the far side of Lyle’s net like a rocket for the equaliser on 35 minutes.

Before the second buzzer, Wildcats suffered another penalty – Neil Liddiard going into the sin bin on 38mins 17secs for tripping Baranyk.

It took just eight seconds for Hook and Frankie Bakrlik to work the defence to allow Chamberlain to edge Lightning in front.

There was a further penalty before the second break – Tom Carlon serving time for interference in a call which went into the third session with no effect on the score.

However when Bakrlik went for hooking on 40mins 53secs Swindon were able to take advantage – Höög finding a way past Odrobny to level at 42mins 2secs.

Moments later came the controversial incident in which Chamberlain’s role in the game was ended by Smith’s challenge – play suspended while arena staff cleared the blood from the ice.

Sam Jones restored Lightning’s lead when he squeezed the puck home from the narrowest of angles at 47mins 7secs – ably assisted by Carr and Bakrlik.

Hook was then the subject of a heavy Swindon challenge – again there was blood spilled delaying the play and again no penalty calls.

The young Brit was back in the battle soon after and made Swindon pay with Lightning’s fourth goal on 51mins 18secs – Jordan Cownie and Hölli the suppliers.

Swindon gave themselves a slim chance of retrieving the situation when Max Birbraer’s blast was blocked but not held by Odrobny and Malasinski was able to sweep the puck into the goal on the follow-up at 56mins 20secs.

But despite the withdrawal of Lyle in favour of the extra skater in the final 50 seconds, Nell’s men were denied a second equaliser.