SWINDON Wildcats’ run of bad form continued as they suffered their fourth defeat in as many games with a 5-2 loss at home to Guildford Flames.

Depsite what the score-line might suggest, the Cats performance in an even contest was a marked improvement to a week ago, when the Cats slipped to a 7-2 home defeat at the hands of Peterborough Phantoms.

The visitors found themselves two goals to the good after a first period strike from Ben Campbell was followed by a goal from Jozef Kohut early in the second.

However the Cats fought their way back into the tie with two-quick fire goals within a minute from Adam Harding and Lee Richardson to put the hosts level before the second period break.

Owen Fussey was the difference between the two sides on the night as his shot somehow found a way under the body of Steve Lyle in the 43rd minute to give the Flames a third period lead.

As Swindon pushed for a second equaliser in the match, head coach Ryan Aldridge pulled off Stevie Lyle to give the Cats an extra outfield player but that plan failed to work as David Longstaff was twice found with long passes out of defence to wrap up the lop-sided score-line.

It was an even opening to the contest with neither side really creating any real openings in the first few minutes.

Swindon found their feet in the game during the first power play of the game when Paul Dixon went into the sin bin for holding the opponents stick.

The Cats looked to take advantage of the extra man on the ice and nearly did through skipper Jan Kostal but he saw his shot ricochet off the upright of the Flames goal.

Then, against the run of play, the Flames were able to break away in the 11th minute with the puck finding its way to Campbell in plenty of space and he was left one on one with Lyle and took the chance well.

Flames doubled their lead three minutes into the second period when Kohut took the puck around the back of the goal to score in the near post.

Swindon did not give up and were right back in the game after two quick fire goals. The first came from Harding in the 28th minute, after Betteridge's initial shot came off a combination of the net minder and the woodwork, but Harding was on hand to fire home.

The second came less than a minute later when vice-captain Stevie Whitfield saw his long range effort saved but Richardson was able to turn the puck in from close range to the delight of the home crowd.

Guildford found themselves back in front in the third period through a soft goal, as Fussey shot off balance but the puck managed to squirm through the legs of net minder Lyle.

Swindon showed real heart as they pushed again for an equaliser with Whitfield and Tomasz Malisinski both going close to restoring parity for the home side but the goal never came.

Instead with the Cats pressing the Flames looked dangerous on the break and with Ryan Aldridge pulling off Lyle to give them the extra man on the ice the visitors scored twice in the final minute of the game through Longstaff who swept the puck into an empty net on both occasions.