CIARAN Long became the first British player to score four goals in a single English Premier League match, as he helped his side to an 8-4 victory at the Swindon Wildcats.

It was sweet revenge for the Herd, after their 5-3 loss just seven days earlier in Basingstoke.

Long took just 89 seconds to open his account with a shorthanded marker as he robbed Jonas Hoog of the puck and then beat Stevie Lyle.

On the same penalty, Swindon equalised from Aaron Nell as he fired in from the right wing.

After Lee Richardson hit the post for the home side, the visitors re-took the lead on their first powerplay of the night as Joe Greener scored.

Then just 20 seconds later, man-of-the-match Long converted a great pass from Doug Sheppard on the left to make it 3-1.

A shell shocked Swindon boss Ryan Aldridge called a time-out and there was no more scoring for the rest of the first period.

The goals came thick and fast in the second session as Aaron Connolly extended the Bison lead to three goals at 23:21.

Swindon gave themselves a lifeline, when Jan Kostal made the most of some good work from Adam Harding.

Back came the Bison as leading scorer Long completed his hat-trick from close range.

The same Herd player then took his tally to four as he scored on the powerplay from close range which made it 6-2.

A Swindon powerplay saw Nell test Dean Skinns, but as the period came to a close the Wildcats were left shorthanded again as Tomasz Malasinski went to the sin bin.

The Polish import skated out of the penalty box early in the third period to slot home a pass from Nell, which may have sparked a Swindon comeback.

However, it was not to be as the Bison added two more to their tally in the space of two minutes as Andy Melachrino netted Nicky Chinn’s rebound and Stuart Mogg made it two goals in as many games.

With the score at 8-3 the game was over and it was left to Sam Bullas to net a late consolation marker for the home side.

The victory saw the Bison take the series win over the Wildcats and it leaves them needing just one point from tonight’s home game (face-off 5.30pm) against Milton Keynes Lightning to secure third spot.

This will not be easy as the Buckinghamshire side arrive in Hampshire after one of their best wins of the season.

They beat the league champions Telford on home ice 6-3 and are still chasing the Manchester Phoenix for sixth place.