IT WAS a case of too little too late as Swindon Wildcats were stung by Bracknell Bees with a 4-3 defeat at the John Nike Leisure Centre.

Frantisek Bakrlik gave Bracknell a well-deserved lead seconds before the end of the first period and two second period goals from Scott Spearing and Milan Kousterak put the hosts in a commanding position.

Carlo Finucci and Lee Richardson were able to haul Swindon back into the game but Matt Foord’s strike before the break had the home side back in control.

Jonas Hoog struck eight minutes into the final period but it proved not to be enough as Swindon went home without the points.

Swindon were slow out of the blocks and were instantly on the back foot as Jordan Hedley’s game came under fire.

Ivan Antonov had the best chance of giving the hosts the lead in the fifth minute when, not for the first time, he was afforded too much space in front of Hedley’s goal and the Swindon net-minder did well to deny the forward.

Swindon were able to quell the barrage after Lukas Smital was sent to the bin for tripping, with the best opportunity falling to Hoog in front of Alexander Mettam’s net, but, one-on-one, his weak effort trickled wide.

The hosts were back on top by the end of the first period and finally found a break through when Bakrlik was given too much space on the left and after controlling the puck he fired home with 47 second remaining.

Bracknell thought they had doubled their advantage on the buzzer when Bakrlik beat Hedley for a second time, only for the referee to rule it out.

Swindon thought they had pulled themselves back level shortly after the break when Thomasz Malasinski found Hoog at the back post but the Swede’s effort from a tight angle was denied by the upright.

Bracknell continued to cause Swindon problems and they got their second when Spearing was given too much time shy of the blue line in the 29th minute and his effort found the top corner with Hedley unsighted.

Swindon found themselves three behind just 80 seconds later when Kostourek came from behind Hedley's goal before firing home at a tight angle.

That sparked Aaron Nell to call an immediate timeout and it worked as Swindon responded with their first strike when Finucci followed up Nell’s deflected strike.

Malasinki then saw his effort in the 35th minute strike the woodwork of Mettam’s goal after the netminder failed to clasp his strike, before Swindon struck again.

Nell again saw his shot deflected and Richardson was the man on hand this time to turn home in the 37th minute.

However, Bracknell restored their two goal advantage just 19 seconds later as Foord had a shot from a tight angle that Hedley failed to keep hold of and the Brit made no mistake at the second attempt.

Swindon were back within a goal of Bracknell eight minutes into the final period when Alex Barker found himself in the bin for holding on Corey McEwen and the visitors made the extra man count with Hoog providing the final touch.

Swindon pushed for an equaliser as they finally sparked into life in the final period but could not find a way past an impressive Mattems.

Swindon pulled Hedley for the final minute but it was Kostourek who nearly completed the scoring, only to see his effort strike the woodwork.

Bees man of the match: Frantisek Bakrlik

Wildcats man of the match: Adam Harding