Within seconds of the face off Flames showed they were out to avenge three earlier defeats to Lightning this season with Lukas Smital testing goalie Barry Hollyhead.

Adam Carr had a fine effort blocked by Flames netminder Joe Watkins shortly before Nick Poole became the first penalty victim of the game on an interference call. However the hosts defended the short handed spell well.

The opening goal was a scrambled affair with Terry Miles' shot saved only for Rob Lamey to poke the puck home from close range at 10mins 2secs.

Moments later Hollyhead had to be at his best to foil a break away from Milos Melicherik and Taras Foremsky – the latter player's shot being stopped.

Lightning upped the pace at the start of the second period but were unable to make it count despite having intense pressure of the Flames net during a two minute powerplay with Melicherik in the sin bin for roughing.

It was somewhat against the flow of the game when Flames added a second on the powerplay at 36mins 39secs while Michael Wales was sitting out an interference call. The goal was well executed with Lukas Smital holding the puck up for scorer Melicherik to position himself at the right pipe.

A 2-0 deficit became three on 43mins 19secs when Mikko Skinnari lost possession to Foremsky who beat Hollyhead one on one.

But then came the start of a late rally by Lightning as Adam Carr set up Gary Clarke at the left post to make it 3-1 on 44mins 29secs.

The gap was reduced to one when Rick Skene was penalised for tripping Skinnari with Clarke the supplier for Adam Radmall to blast home from the blue line.

Any hope Lightning had of getting level was cancelled out as Formesky unleashed a rocket shot to beat Hollyhead at 55mins 11secs to make it 4-2.

The following night it was Lightning who were seeking to avenge an earlier defeat when they went to Romford Raiders – the previous game having been won 1-0 by the Essex side.

This time though Lightning made no mistake with Skinnari putting them in front at 8mins 20secs on a powerplay – Toni Alasaarela the provider.

Before the first break Alasaarela got in on the act to put the city team 2-0 up with a well taken goal.

Matt Towalski added to Raiders' misery with Lightning's third goal on 21mins 2secs and Ross Bowers effectively put the match beyond the hosts with a strike on 33mins 18secs.

Shaun Wallis netted for Raiders at 34mins 54secs but Lightning were still in control at the second interval.

Andrius Kaminskas further reduced the arrears with a controversial goal at 48mins 50secs – the puck seemingly hitting the pipework and bouncing out.

However any possible nerves Lightning had of a late Raiders surge were removed when Kurt Irvine bagged a rare goal at 54mins 30secs to make it 5-2 – Irvine's celebrations all the more significant bearing in mind his battle with Norman Pinnington in the earlier defeat by Raiders.