SWINDON survived a third-period comeback to defeat Slough 7-5 at the Hangar tonight in their third and final challenge match of 2012/13.

Slough’s Darius Pliskaukas opened the scoring (2:35), only for Jonas Hoog to level with a neat finish on the powerplay (5:06).

Jan Melichar netted from close range (11:38) and it got better for the visitors in the second period with Nicky Watt teeing up Hoog for his second (24:08).

Finnish import Matias Perkkio made it 4-1 when his shot trickled over the line (30:29), and although Dan Davies pulled a goal back on the powerplay (34:01), the visitors were still on top.

Perkkio underlined this with a well-taken effort (38:28) to send Wildcats into the final period 5-2 up.

When Aaron Nell provided the assist from which Lee Richardson converted, Swindon looked home and dry, but they did not bank on three goals inside five minutes from their hosts.

Pliskauskas hit the pipes before scoring seconds later (44:55) and then a well-worked move was finished off by Davies (48:55).

Terrific stick skill allowed Pliskauskas to complete his hat-trick (49:39), but Hoog collected his own hat-trick at 52:14 as he made it 7-5 and close out the fixture.