AN overtime strike from Sam Zajac was enough to deny Swindon Wildcats their first four point weekend of the season as they fell to a 3-2 defeat away to Telford Tigers.

A double from Carlo Finucci in as many second period minutes was enough to put Swindon in front, after Jason Silverthorn had given the hosts a deserved lead.

However, down to just four players Telford were able to take the game into overtime with a Peter Szabo strike.

Swindon headed into the game full of confidence on the back of putting 11 past Sheffield Steeldogs at the Link Centre, however it was the hosts who looked like they were coming off the back of a big win.

Swindon found themselves on the back foot from the off as they were sloppy in possession handing Telford the puck in some dangerous positions.

It took six minutes before Sami Ryhanen tested Telford net minder Sam Gospel, but the shoulder of the Brit was enough to deny the Fin.

Swindon had to see out two penalties in the first period but with net minder and players alike throwing their bodies on the line they were able to keep the home side out.

Joe Miller thought he had given his side a deserved lead in the 11th minute but his effort was ruled out with the referee having already blown the whistle for an earlier infringement from Rick Plant.

The first period ended in a mêlée behind the Tigers net and Swindon started the second period with Finucci, cross-checking, and Neil Liddiard, roughing, in the bin, while Telford also had a penalty against Zajac for cross-checking.

The man advantage and the pressure from the first period finally told just a minute after the re-start when Silverthorn bundled his way through the Swindon defence and the puck managed to find its way under the legs of Lyle.

With the goal advantage, Telford began to sit back and it proved costly when Swindon finally found their attacking rhythm.

Having picked up six assists in Saturday’s game against Sheffield Steeldogs, Sami Ryhanen was back on the assist trail as he set up Finucci for his second goal in a Wildcats jersey.

In the 29th minute Ryhanen broke and found Finucci in space in the middle and the Canadian made no mistake.

Swindon found themselves ahead less than two minutes later as Finucci made the most of Joe Graham being in the sin bin for delay of the game.

 A rebounded shot fell to the feet of the 27-year-old and with Gospel unable to re-set himself Finucci found the back of the net.

Telford put Swindon back under the cosh at the start of the final period, especially when Liddiard saw the sin bin for a delay of the game penalty, but Swindon were able to hold strong with Lyle in fine form.

However, with Liddiard, hooking, and Harvey Stead, cross-checking from behind, both in the bin with less than three minutes remaining Phil Hill had a shot that was too fierce for Lyle to handle and Szabo was free on the right to fire the hosts back level and take the game to overtime.

Telford's dominance told extra-time as Zajac broke down the left before firing home to bring the game to an end and hand Telford a deserved win on the balance of play.