SWINDON Wildcats were left spooked as they fell to a 5-2 defeat at home to Peterborough Phantoms.

Ales Padelek gave Peterborough a lead inside 13 minutes before Tomasz Malasinski levelled with 30 seconds left on the clock in the first period.

Milan Baranyk restored the visitors’ lead inside four minutes of the second period before two goals in 20 third-period seconds had the game out of reach as Baranyk got his second and Lloyd Gibson made it four.

Jan Kostal pulled a goal back for Swindon with 10 minutes remaining, only for Craig Scott to restore the advantage with a short-handed goal to wrap up the points.

Swindon started the game brightly and Tomasz Malasinki saw an effort rattle off the frame of Janis Auzins goal inside three minutes.

However, despite Swindon’s early pressure, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in the 13th minute.

Ferrara went down the right flank before finding Padelek at the back post, who found the back of the net before Lyle could get across his goal.

Both teams went down to four men before the end of the period when Stevie Whitfield, elbows, and Gibson, roughing were sent to the bin.

Swindon were given further hope when Padelek followed them into the bin 30 seconds later to leave Peterborough short-handed.

The Wildcats made the most of man advantage when Malasinski was found open next to Auzins’ post and the Pole forced the puck under the body of the Latvian in the direction of Jan Kostal but the puck found its way into the net before reaching the Czech forward.

Once the penalties had been seen out at the start of the second period, Peterborough looked the better side and when Harvey Stead headed to the sin bin for tripping, the visitors pouned.

Gibson found Baranyk in space seven yards out on the left and the Czech forward fired his shot first time to beat Stevie Lyle.

With both White and Pliskauskas finding their way into the bins during the second period, momentum swung back in the hosts favour but they were unable to find a way past Auzins.

Carlo Finucci saw an effort from close range go just wide before Aaron Nell hit a first-time shot from the right which struck the upright with venom.

Padelek came within inches of extending the visitors’ advantage 10 second into the third period but was denied by the frame of Lyle’s goal.

However the goal was not long coming as two goals in the space of 22 seconds saw Peterborough take control of the tie.

Pick fired a shot in from the right that was deflected in by Baranyk for his second and Peterborough’s third, before Lyle saved twice to deny the Phantoms but couldn’t stop Lloyd Gibson for the fourth.

With 10 minutes remaining, Kostal fired in from close to the boards on the left but, with Gibson in the bin for high sticks, Phantoms restored their lead when Scott beat Lyle one-on-one to secure the two points.

Wildcats man of the match: Jan Kostal

Phantoms man of the match: Marc Levers