SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell says there is still plenty to learn ahead of the new campaign after suffering their second defeat off pre-season this evening.

Like last Sunday away at Bracknell Bees, Nell’s side left themselves a mountain to climb at the Link Centre as they fell three goals behind to Peterborough Phantoms.

Will Weldon’s first-period strike was followed up by goals from Ferrara and Salem after just 26 minutes.

Toms Rutkis started the comeback as he netted before the second break and despite a handful of wasted opportunities, further goals from Phil Hill and Chris Jones had the hosts back level before Padelek secured a 4-3 victory for Peterborough with just 21 seconds left on the clock.

“I thought we had a bad 10 minutes in the second period,” said Nell.

“They are so well organised and they’re a good team and as soon as you let off, they are going to punish you and that’s what we did.

“It’s tough to get back the three goals. I thought we came back well but we can’t keep putting ourselves into that hole.

“That’s two weeks in a row where we were down and we have got to figure that out.

“In the third, we did come back well. We had a lot of time on the puck and we had some good chances but the goals will come, I am confident of that.

“We had some big players again miss some big chances, myself included, and that just comes with a bit of time and match fitness.

“As long as I am getting chances, I am happy. I had a big chance in the second period and I’ve got to score that goal.

“If there is a time to switch off, it’s in the pre-season.

“The reason why we had two sets of tough games and two weekends of games was to learn from these kind of things.

“I was happy with how we came back and in the end, it’s just a killer blow.”

Nell, who was without Kyle Smith, appears to be close to knowing his preferred lines for the start of the National League One South season next weekend, ahead of visiting Peterborough tomorrow night.

“We’re trying different things and Kyle wasn’t here this weekend and we missed him,” he added.

“It’s just getting that continuity and finding the right guys and the right mix.

“I did like the lines at the end, so we’ve learnt something from that.

“I knew I was going to split both netminders in the friendlies and Renny has never been Peterborough so I didn’t want him not to play there and then play in regular season.

“I thought it was important to get them both a game at home and then get Renny a game in Peterborough because it’s a tough rink to play in, especially for a goalie.

“Tomorrow is a big test, going to probably the toughest rink in the league and we’ve got to go there and get a win.”