SWINDON Wildcats failed to spark into life on the opening day of the new English Premier League season as they were beaten at home by Guildford Flames this evening.

Aaron Nell’s side twice came from behind to level the scores in the opening half-hour at the Link Centre but the two-goal cushion Guildford built up early in the final period proved insurmountable.

It was a nightmare start for the Cats as they fell behind after just 16 seconds when Ben Campbell beat netminder Stevie Lyle at his near post with a crisp strike from the right.

Swindon then found themselves two men light as Adam Finlison was sent to the penalty box, swiftly followed by new recruit Ben Davies.

However, the home side were safely able to negotiate that period without any harm on the scoreboard and actually went close to restoring parity before they were back to full strength as Neil Liddiard saw a long-range effort smothered by Richard Ullberg in the Flames goal.

The Cats did draw level midway through the period as Kyle Smith was able to find a way past Ullberg after good work to create the chance by skipper Jan Kostal.

Guildford then thought they had restored their lead following a moment chaos in front of the Cats goal. With Lyle face down on the ice, Marek Maslonka claimed to have squeezed the puck over the line but the officials were not convinced.

Both teams ended the period a man light as Swindon’s Stevie Whitfield and Andrew Melachrino, for Flames, both made their way to the bin and the Cats were almost able to get their noses in front but Aaron Nell was denied by Ullberg as the buzzer sounded with the score level.

The sides were back at full strength before either net was breached again, with Flames first to strike once for. Guildford had three men flying towards the Wildcats' goal up the left, with Jeremy Lundin the man to crack a strike past Lyle.

The visitors went a man light just after the half-hour mark as Samuel Waller was penalised and the Cats were swift to pounce on the power-play as Jonas Hoog brought them level, lashing home after an excellent cross-ice pass from Kostal.

Parity did not last long and Flames were soon back in front as Campbell got his second of the evening, sauntering unchallenged up the left before poking underneath Lyle.

A flurry of penalties came the visitors’ way in the closing minutes as first Marcus Kristoffersson and then Maslonka were sent to the penalty box, the latter for goalie interference on Lyle, and although the ended the period a man light, their lead was intact as the buzzer sounded.

Swindon were unable to make the numerical advantage count as the final period got under way and once back to full strength, the Flames flooded forward and went two goals to the good for the first time as Kristoffersson lashed into the net from way out.

Numerous power-plays came the Cats’ way in the closing stages and they made the most of one such instance as captain Kostal brought his side back to within one goal, cracking an unstoppable effort past Ullberg after being picked out by Hoog.

The home side threw everything at their visitors in the dying stages of the contest in an effort to grab the goal that would send the contest to overtime, even pulling netminder Lyle for the final minute, but it was in vain as Guildford held on.