A DOUG Clarkson hat-trick condemned Swindon Wildcats to an 8-3 defeat away to Telford Tigers to bring a four-match winning streak to a shuddering halt.

First period goals from Doug Clarkson and Sam Zajac put the home side in a commanding position at the first break but Tomasz Malasinski netted twice to haul Swindon back level in the second.

The sides were on level terms for moments before Lubomir Korhon and Jason Silverthorn put Telford back in control of the contest.

Neil Liddiard scored midway through the third period to show a glimmer of hope but Clarkson wrapped up his hat-trick to add to a second goal from Silverthorn and a Matt Davies strike.

Things got off to a bad start for the visitors when Max Bribraer, back at his former club, found himself in the sin bin after just 25 seconds after boarding Milan Kolena.

Swindon were able to hold out the early pressure but on Birbraer’s return, he was straight back into the thick of the action as he was flipped on his back by Silverthorn, earning the Telford skipper two minutes in the bin.

Despite Swindon having the extra man, it was the hosts who took the lead in the third minute as Davies dropped the puck back to Clarkson who fired past Stevie Lyle, who was unable to pick up the puck in flight.

Swindon looked in desperate trouble after just eight minutes as Zajac fired in Telford’s second and Aaron Nell was forced to call an immediate timeout.

The visitors were able to see the game out until the first break without conceding again and after re-grouping in the dressing room, they were back in the game after just 40 seconds.

Birbraer found Malasinski in acres of space with a forward pass and the Pole made no mistake, one-on-one with Gospel, as he placed the pack neatly through the netminder’s legs.

Swindon continued to play with an intensity that was absent in the first period and both Birbraer and Jonas Höög tested Gospel, while Lyle pulled off an acrobatic save to deny Davies.

There was a break just after the half-hour mark as Kyle Smith and Kolena dropped gloves which saw them both get six minutes in the bin.

With Neil Liddiard following them in shortly after, it was Swindon who had a chance to level when Sam Bullas was played through, one-on-one with Gospel, however, the netminder stayed big and the puck deflected off his shoulder.

Swindon were able to get the equaliser their efforts merited in the 36th minute when Malasinski turned home a pass from Höög from behind the net.

However, parity was short-lived as Korhon fired the hosts back in front 33 seconds later before Silverhtorn restored their two-goal cushion with 58 seconds left of the period.

Swindon were able to reduce the gap to just one again in the 46th minute when Liddiard found the net to score only his second goal for Swindon, both coming at Telford.

However, Lyle’s goal came under immediate barrage again and after Adam Jones went agonisingly close for the hosts, Clarkson netted his second of the game with a rocket.

The game was put out of Swindon’s reach in the 51st minute when Lyle saved from Rick Plant and Scott but could do little to prevent the final effort from Davies.

With Corey McEwen in the bin for slashing, Swindon threw caution to the wind as they pulled Lyle but Silverthorn caught the visitors in possession and punished them to make it seven.

Clarkson secured his hat-trick goal with 61 seconds remaining as he lifted the puck into the roof of the net from close range to end a dismal night for the Wildcats.

Tigers man of the match: Doug Clarkson

Wildcats man of the match: Floyd Taylor