THE Swindon Wildcats gave their fans the perfect present as they signed off for the Christmas break with a 5-4 win over league leaders Telford Tigers.

The Cats continued their rich vein of form as they stretched their winning streak to six games in all competitions in front of a packed Link Centre crowd.

The Cats have become a side to be feared in recent weeks and the visitors tried to combat that with a physical style but the home-side, still without several youngsters away on international duty, impressed again.

It was a thoroughly entertaining first period of hockey as the Cats picked up where they left off on Wednesday night against Milton Keynes Lightning.

Aaron Nell forced the save from stopper Tom Murdy but the puck flicked up and 16-year-old Adam Finlinson, who has impressed in his short stint in the side, tapped it home.

With Henrik Sandvik in the bin for high sticks the Tigers were able to restore parity with Jason Silverthorn squeazing the puck home.

The crowd were less than happy when the visitors took the lead in the 17th minute with another power-play goal.

Despite Nathan Salem appearing to have rushed Stevie Lyle, it was Tomasz Scott Malasinski who ended up in the bin for holding, and seconds later Miller was found in space and he turned to flick the puck over the shoulder of Lyle.

The Cats pulled the game back level before the end of the first period with one of the finest goals at the Link Centre this season.

Malasinski and Nell passed their way down the ice before Nell applied the finishing touch into an empty net with Murdy out-thought.

It was the Polish forward who was bringing the home fans to their feet again seconds after the re-start when his shot proved too hot to handle for Murdy and the puck snuck over the line.

However the lead lasted just 30 seconds as the Tigers were given too much time and space in front of Lyle's goal and McKenzie was able to strike.

Nell got his second of the game just before the half hour mark as he was set up by captain Jan Kostal to give the home side a narrow lead going into the final period.

Harding extended the lead eight minutes into the final period as he took advantage of both Novaz and Maynard being in the sin bin.

With the penalty clock ticking down to just seven seconds Nell hit a hopeful shot which went wide but Harding was there to hit the puck first time as it came back off the back board.

The Cats goal came under increasing pressure in the final minutes of the game and it took its toll in the 55th minute when Silverthorn showed good strength to score his second of the game with a back-handed shot.

The Tigers took a time-out with seventy seconds left on the clock but the Cats put their bodies on the line to hold on and claim the win.