Player coach Nick Poole's call last week to his team to put the past few weeks behind them was blown apart in the first few minutes despite a high energy start.

The game was just 3mins 37secs old when referee Matt Thompson penalised Ross Bowers for interference.

And from the resulting powerplay Flames took just 30 seconds or so to capitalise with Rick Plant setting up David Savage to score past goalie Barry Hollyhead.

And a second powerplay goal came Flames way after Kurt Irvine was given a penalty for hooking in the 10th minute. This time Stuart Potts was the supplier for Jozef Kohut to fire into the net on 12mins 24secs.

As Lightning were still reeling from this shock they conceded yet another penalty with Danny Chaplen going to the sin bin.

Once more Flames made the most of the extra man advantage Savage this time getting the assist on Plant's strike at 14mins 2secs.

With Lightning outshot 10-6 and 3-0 at the end of the first period they needed some serious regrouping at the first interval if they were to get back into the match.

Unfortunately it was not to be with the Surrey visitors quickly extending their lead on 21mins 1secs.

This time it was Slovakian Milos Melicherik who was on the mark thanks to a set up by hois player coach Paul Dixon.

In reality there was no way back for Lightning after that and things got even worse for them less than two minutes later despite the fact that Flames were a man down with Nick Cross sitting out a holding call.

Melicherik again found the net short-handed to extend the gap to five for the visitors at 23mins 58secs.

From then on Lightning turned up the pressure in terms of shots on goal – firing 14 on Joe Watkins in the second session but it was all to no avail.
David Wride replaced Hollyhead in the Lightning goal for the third period but it was Watkins who was again the busier of the goalies with the home team outshooting Flames 15-11.

Lightning finally got off the mark on 51mins 41secs when Gary Clarke was the provider for Toni Alasaarela to register what was no more than a consolation goal.