SWINDON Wildcats closed the gap on Basingstoke Bison in third place to just a point after a hard-fought 5-3 win over their league rivals.

Goals from Aaron Nell and Lee Richardson gave Swindon a 2-1 lead in the first period before two strikes in less than a minute in the second period from Sam Bullas and Jonas Hoog put Swindon in a commanding position.

Doug Sheppard and Nicky Chinn pulled two goals back in the final period to make for a tense finish but with Dean Skinns pulled in the last minute Tomas Kana was able to wrap up a vital win in the play-off push.

Swindon Wildcats were on the back foot from the off as the hosts got the better of the early exchanges.

Stevie Lyle was in fine form as he kept out several early attempts from Doug Sheppard and Grant Rounding to keep the scores level.

Meanwhile at the other end Skinns was celebrating 10,000 minutes on the ice for Basingstoke Bison and there was a standing ovation from all inside Planet Ice in the second minute to mark that landmark.

Swindon had their first real chance to take the lead eight minutes in when Floyd Taylor was played through one-on-one with Skinns but the veteran got the better of the young forward to deny him.

However just moments later Nell was played into the same position by Sam Bullas and the experience told as he finished well to give Swindon a surprise lead.

With Kana and Ryan Watt in the sin-bin for roughing Swindon were able to double their lead.

Hoog found Richardson in acres of space on the left and from a tight angle he was able to fire home past an unsighted Skinns.

The hosts pulled their way back into the game before the break when Vantroba bundled the puck into Lyle’s net with the forward following through into the net-minder to the annoyance of many of the Wildcats players.

Swindon executed the perfect smash and grab in the second period to further extend their lead.

After soaking up a barrage of pressure Swindon were able to make a rare break-away in the 38th minute and Bullas showed impressive individual skill.

He skipped inside two defenders before committing Skinns and sliding the puck into an empty net.

That strike sparked Swindon into life and just 34 seconds later the travelling Swindon fans were on their feet again.

This time Hoog was played in by Toms Rutkis before cutting inside and firing past Skinns to give the visitors a 4-1 lead going into the final period.

Swindon were left to sweat in the final period when Basingstoke pulled two goals back through Sheppard and Chinn to make for a grand stand finale.

But with 1 minute 14 seconds remaining Bison took a time-out and Skinns was pulled. Lyle pulled off a fine save to deny Greener before Swindon broke and Kana was able to fire home from wide on the right.