SWINDON Wildcats turned on the first-period firepower to set up a 3-1 win at Basingstoke Bison in the NIHL Cup last night.

The Cats were three goals to the good at the end of the opening 20 minutes and despite a power play strike from the home side in the third period, Aaron Nell's men wrapped up a win to stay unbeaten at the top of Pool D of the competition.

Both sides ran into penalty trouble in the opening period, Sam Bullas taking two minutes for slashing and Max Birbraer incurring a two-minute hooking call, but they went ahead on 11.28 as Chris Jones netted, thanks assists from Sam Zajac and Nell.

The lead was doubled on 12.46 as Jordan Kelsall struck, Nell and Floyd Taylor with the assists and with 28 seconds of the period remaining it was three as Nell and Jones teed up Birbraer.

Kelsall took a two-minute slashing penalty in a goalless second stanza, with Zajac going for hooking early in the third, before Stevie Whitfied went for tripping.

Cats killed both those penalties but Taylor was handed five minutes plus game for boarding and Dan Scott got the Bison on the board soon after.

Whitfield also saw bench time for slashing later in the period, but the Cats rode out their hosts' pressure to secure the win.

Swindon are back in action next Saturday at home to London Raiders in NIHL South One.