SWINDON Wildcats claimed the scalp of last season’s regular-season champions Telford Tigers, snatching victory in their first away fixture of the season in dramatic style.

Stevie Lyle’s side threw everything into surviving a blood and thunder encounter at the Telford Ice Arena and their defensive solidity paid off as Miroslav Zalesak netted with 40 seconds to go, allowing Tomasz Malasinksi to then add some late gloss to a superb evening for the visitors.

Facing up to the daunting task of tackling last term’s regular season table-toppers, the visitors went about giving as good as they got early on and their efforts were rewarded with the opening goal of the evening.

Sami Rhyanen’s cute pass forward was deftly knocked underneath netminder Thomas Murdy by Aaron Nell to make it 1-0 to the Wildcats.

There was no quarter given as the period wore on, with plenty of huge hits flying in from both teams.

Malasinksi was on the end of a bone-shuddering check whilst Jan Kostal handed out and received unrelenting shoves to the floor.

The ruthless nature of the clash showed no signs of abating and with just over 11 minutes gone, Callum Buglass took one for the team as he was flattened by Maxim Birbraer in the corner.

Play continued, despite teenager Buglass writhing in agony, and Malasinski slotted home his side’s second of the match to earn the visitors retribution in the most effective way.

Birbraer was ejected for his foul on D-man Buglass, leaving the officials to receive the ire of the scorned home fans.

Lyle smartly knocked away an effort from Martin Ondrej and despite plenty of scrambles in front of the Swindon goal, Lyle’s side got a puck or a skate in the way every time to preserve their 2-0 lead through to the break.

It was a certainty that the Tigers would bare their claws in the second period and after less than three minutes, they halved the deficit as Peter Szabo squeezed a shot over the line to make it 2-1.

Then, with Corey McEwen in the penalty box, the visitors almost held firm though Telford’s first power play of the match but just as they were about to return to a full compliment, Phil Hill blasted one from close-range and the puck looped over the line to bring the home side back level.

Stevie Whitfield was handed the opportunity to restore Swindon’s lead after he was fouled and awarded a penalty spot but despite his best efforts, the Wildcats man couldn’t beat Murdy in a one-on-one situation.

When Harvey Stead was caught in possession early in the third and final period, the Tigers almost capitalised on the break but Lyle flung himself across the ice to gather in the puck.

It was all hands to the pump for the visitors as Telford attacked incessantly, with last-ditch blocks and tackles, coupled with saves from player-coach Lyle, keeping the men in black and orange at bay.

It was all one-way traffic but Nell did break and came close to finding the net as he curled an effort just over the Tigers bar.

At the other end, a swift counter-attack ended with the hosts’ Rick Plant teeing up Blahosav Novak but Lyle was on hand to make a crucial stop.

The Swindon netminder was also equal to Sam Zajac’s late fierce drive and then, the late drama arrived.

The visitors broke late on and Zalesak attempted to play the puck inside to Nell but his pass took a wicked deflection and skewed past Murdy and into the net to hand the Wildcats a late lead.

The hosts then pulled their goalie in favour of an extra outfield player but the late roll of the dice didn’t pay off as Swindon won possession high up the ice and Malaskinski was on hand to slip the puck into the empty net to finish things off.