THE Basingstoke Bison wrapped up their qualification for the play-off finals in Coventry, by winning Group B with a 7-3 success at the Swindon Wildcats.

The Herd will now face the league champions the Telford Tigers in the second semi-final on Saturday (5pm), with the first one being between the Guildford Flames and Milton Keynes Lightning.

The Bison who beat the Wildcats on home ice the previous week, started well at the Link Centre, as both Matt Towalski and Joe Miller had early chances.

The visitors then took the lead at 6:46, as Tomas Karpov scored from close range.

The Wildcats then ran into penalty trouble with the Bison having a four minute powerplay, which included two minutes of a five-on-three advantage.

The home defence did well to keep the Herd out, as Ciaran Long and Karpov tested Stevie Lyle.

Then just seven seconds after they returned to full strength, captain Aaron Connolly doubled the advantage.

Swindon got themselves back into the contest, as Max Birbraer scored, but at the first break the Bison still led 2-1.

The second session saw Swindon's Toms Rutkis denied by Tomas Hiadlovsky early on and the goalie had to be at his best against to save from Tomasz Malasinski.

Wildcats Lee Richardson then went close, before the Bison added a third goal, as the forward line of Ivan Antonov, Joe Miller and Rene Jarolin struck.

Miller doing all the spade work for man of the match Antonov to fire home.

Just three minutes later, it became 4-1 as Derek Roehl scored with a sweet wrist shot.

The visitors then so nearly added a fifth early in the final period, but Lyle produced an excellent double save to deny Karpov and Rand.

Jonas Hoog then tested Hiadlovsky and from this the Bison produced a great break out which saw Ciaran Long score.

Miller, who scored twice the previous night, added goal number six as he netted his own rebound.

With five minutes left in the contest, Malasinski scored off the post which was given after much discussion by the officials.

At this point Hiadlovsky was replaced by Dan Weller-Evans for the final five minutes.

Swindon had also changed their netminders a minute earlier and Lyle's replacement Michael Crisp, was unable to stop Karpov grabbing his second and the Bison 's seventh of the night.

It was left to the home side to wrap up the scoring as Adam Finlinson scored with four seconds left.