SWINDON Wildcats head coach Ryan Aldridge was upset with his side’s third period performance as they conceded three goals to hand Guildford Flames a 6-3 home win.

After a goalless first period Swindon had twice pulled themselves back into the game in the second only to let some poor defensive mistakes gift Guildford the two points.

Going into the game short-benched with Ollie Betteridge still missing and Floyd Taylor picking up an injury in Saturday night’s win over Basingstoke Bison it was always going to be an uphill battle against the second placed side in the league.

Guildford took the lead through David Longstaff before Toms Rutkis pegged the hosts back.

David Savage and Matt Towe made the Guildford pressure tell to put the home side in a commanding position but two goals in ten seconds of the last minute of the second period from Alex Symonds and Tomas Kana hauled the Wildcats back level.

The hosts showed their class in the final period though and Thomas Duggan restored their lead before Towe doubled his tally and Marcus Kristoffersson wrapped up the victory.

“It wasn’t good enough. Going in, against this team, 3-3 into the third period, giving away the goals like we did wasn’t good enough,” said Aldridge.

“I thought we played great, being tired from last night. We were short benched and I thought we played great to be 3-3 going into the third, but the third period was a bit upsetting for me.

“Any time you come to this building and you come out of the first period at 0-0 you’re on a good course. We know the first 30 minutes are important in this building and we played well for the first 30 tonight.

“They are very quick on the break and we weren’t quick enough to catch them in certain areas, and we made some big mistakes defensively.

“Before the weekend I would have jumped at two out of four points, no doubt about that,” he added.”

Taylor, who missed the trip to Guildford with an upper body injury that he picked up during in the aftermath of Sam Bullas’ goal on Saturday, is expected to make a return to the side ahead of next weekend’s match against Basingstoke.

“Hopefully, if he gets the right rest and rehab, he should be back in the line-up fingers crossed,” added Aldridge.