RYAN Aldridge lauded Swindon Wildcats’ defensive prowess after they got back to winning ways with an impressive 5-2 triumph on the road at Peterborough Phantoms tonight.

Cats had been made to pay for some sloppy play at the back in a 6-2 loss at Guildford Flames 24 hours earlier, but it could not have been a starker contrast at Planet Ice.

Swindon kept their hosts at bay throughout the final 52 minutes of the match, with netminder Stevie Lyle in particularly impressive form, pulling of several fine stops.

The only time Ryan Aldridge’s side did look a slightly shaky was in the opening exchanges, with Phantoms breaking the deadlock inside 30 seconds.

However, goals from Adam Harding, Jonas Hoog and Jan Kostal ensured the visitors led 3-2 at the end of the first period and, after stalemate in the second, late strikes from Kenton Smith and Aaron Nell sealed the Cats’ win.

“Everyone did what was asked of them tonight,” said Aldridge.

“The first five minutes was a bit of a strange one. I think it caught Gumsy (Lyle) cold but the boys played great defence and we took our chances when they came.

“It is (impressive), especially with the way we’ve been playing lately.

“This is a very tough building to come to. That score looks pretty but I think our boys deserved it.

“Last night our team defence was all over the place but tonight everyone bought in and did the little things right and the scoreline reflects that.

“We talked about going into the third period 0-0, although obviously after the first five minutes it wasn’t going to be that way.

“We were so short benched we couldn’t play and run with them, we had to be patient, we had to sit back and take our chances when they came.”