TWO empty-net goals in the last minute from Jamie Hayes enabled Swindon Cougars to complete a fine comeback and secure a 5-2 home win over Chelmsford Mohawks.

They trailed 2-1 at halfway but Hayes, a third line regular in the senior Wildcats team making a rare appearance, moved Swindon third in the under 18 Southern League and revived their play-off hopes.

Netminders Chris Brummitt and Cougars' Olli Lansdowne dominated the opening period, the only goal coming at 15.53 when Will Crowder converted a pass from Amanda Carr for Swindon.

Cougars had more shots in the second, but lost it 2-1.

Within 96 seconds of the re-start, Mohawks levelled as Ross Briers scored and he beat Lansdowne again with a powerplay effort at 30.59, with Shannon Taylor in the sin-bin.

Despite outshooting Chelmsford 16-6, it looked as though Cougars would go into the break behind but, with 58 seconds left, captain Sam Feeney equaliserd.

Swindon edged ahead 3-2 at 50.54 courtesy of Matthew Davies, another Wildcats regular, from Ciaran Long's pass.

Chelmsford's coach opted to gamble with an extra skater in place of netminder Brumitt in the last 90 seconds when on a double powerplay, but Hayes stole in for a short-handed goal at 58.57 and another at 59.51 clinched it.

Cougars scorers: Hayes 2+0; Davies 1+1; Crowder & Feeney 1+0; Carr and Long 0+1.

Period scores: 1-0; 1-2; 3-0.

Shots on goal: Cougars 42; Mohawks 23.

Penalty minutes: Cougars 16; Mohawks 10.