TOMASZ Malasinski’s late strike ensured Swindon Wildcats will travel to Guildford Flames with a slender advantage for the second leg of their English Premier League play-off.

There was little to choose between the sides as they served up a bruising battle at the Link Centre but Malasinski’s second goal of the match two minutes before the final buzzer gives Swindon the edge.

Both netminders were in outstanding form as Cats stopper Stevie Lyle and Guildford counterpart Richard Ullberg pulled off a flurry of fine stops.

The duo had been beaten just once apiece before Malasinski’s late winner, with the Poland international also cancelling out Janis Ozolins’ opener for the visitors.

The teams were evenly matched early on and genuine chances were few and far between. Given the importance of the game, most efforts seemed to be blocked by a flying body, but Floyd Taylor did get a sight of goal for the Cats, although he lashed over the bar.

Swindon player-coach Aaron Nell then saw a shot blocked by the diving Jeremy Lundin, while at the other end, home netminder Lyle flicked a shot from Ben Campbell wide.

After 10 cagey minutes, the play began to open up and Toms Rutkis fed Jan Kostal but visiting keeper Ullberg made the save from the close-range strike.

Ullberg then denied Nell before Lyle got his body in the way of a Matt Towe strike.

Swindon’s Carlo Finucci and Lundin, of Guildford, were then kept at bay by the keepers and although the hosts finished the first period the stronger, they could not find a breakthrough.

Malasinski and Stevie Whitfield both sent in efforts on Ullberg’s goal but the Flames stopper refused to be beaten as the buzzer sounded with the score still 0-0.

Swindon were again frustrated by Ullberg as the second period got under way as Adam Harding, Neil Liddiard and Kostal all found no way through with strikes from distance.

There was still plenty of action in front of the Cats’ goal as Lyle kept out Matic Kralj before Samuel Godfrey shot wide.

The play continued to flow from end to end as Jonas Hoog sent an effort straight at Ullberg, while Lyle made another save himself, this time from Kevin Phillips.

The contest was into its second half-hour before a breakthrough finally arrived and it came the way of the visitors as Lyle was beaten by Ozolins.

Ozolins’ strike seemed to give Flames the momentum and the Cats were indebted to keeper Lyle for keeping the deficit at one as he saved twice from Campbell in quick succession.

However, Swindon rallied and hauled themselves level going into the final period when Malasinski was finally able to find a way past Ullberg.

Lyle was the first of the netminders called into action in the final 20 minutes, saving from Kralj and then Tom Duggan.

A big chance came the Cats’ way to take the lead when Harding carved his way up the ice and after Ullberg made the save, the puck dropped loose but Taylor could not react in time and the Flames stopper recovered to keep him out.

Ullberg was called into again soon afterwards, keeping the lurking Hoog at bay at the back post, and then to thwart Nell after he darted in one-on-one.

Both netminders continued to be at their best as first Andrew McKinney could not find a way past Lyle before it was likewise for Kostal up against Ullberg.

The match needed a moment of brilliance to decide it and Malasinski was up the task for the Cats with little over two minutes left on the clock.

The Poland international lashed home from distance after Hoog had pulled the puck back to give his side the edge ahead of the second leg.