SWINDON Wildcats failed to pick up a point for the first time in four English Premier League fixtures as they were soundly beaten at home by Peterborough Phantoms this evening.

Having seen off both Milton Keynes Lightning and Bracknell Bees at home in recent weeks, as well as taking the former all the way to penalty shots on the road, Swindon could not re-produce that form against the Phantoms.

Aaron Nell’s side were always chasing the game after falling two goals in arrears in the first period at the Link Centre and as they tried to force their way back into it, the hosts were routinely punished by slick Peterborough play.

Swindon were quick out of the blocks and both Jonas Hoog and Toms Rutkis tested Phantoms netminder Adam Long inside the opening minute.

Kyle Smith was the next home player to send in an effort on Long’s goal but the Cats were promptly punished for failing to take their chances.

Owen Griffiths forced a good save from Stevie Lyle in the home goal but the puck dropped loose and Darius Pliskauskas gobbled up the rebound to slot into an empty net and break the deadlock after five minutes.

Swindon’s Neil Liddiard and Peterborough duo Marc Levers and Petr Stepanek traded efforts on goal before Cats man Max Birbraer had his night ended early after just 11 minutes as he was ejected from the game for charging.

That saw the hosts forced to play a man light for five minutes and the Phantoms duly laying siege to their goal, with first Pliskauskas seing an effort deflect off Lyle’s helmet before the home stopper made an unbelievable save from Waheb Darge from just a yard out.

However, Swindon’s plight deepened when they found themselves down to just three players following a further penalty for Liddiard and after a melee in front of the home net, Levers prodded over the line from close in to double Peterborough’s lead.

Swindon had a big chance to get a goal back before the buzzer sounded as Hoog and Tomasz Malasinksi carved open a two-on-one opportunity but the Pole blazed his effort wide.

Nell sent his troops out fired up for the second period and Kostal had already cracked a powerful effort in at Long before the hosts were able to break their duck on the scoreboard.

After a prolonged spell of pressure, Lee Richardson pulled the puck back in front of Peterborough goal and Malasinski was on hand to send a shot straight through the legs of Long.

Swindon continued to up the ante and Adam Finlinson weaved towards the visitors’ net Phantom but could not quite squeeze his strike over the line before Phil Hill, Ben Nethersell and Hoog all went close on a Cats power-play to no avail.

Just as they had been in the first period, the home side were punished for failing to make their pressure tell and Phantoms restored their two-goal cushion when Will Weldon drilled the puck across the width of the ice to Ales Padelek in space and he rifled home on the angle.

Swindon tried to respond and Hill fed Robin Kovar in a good position but Long made a strong save and the Cats headed back to the locker room still two goals in arrears.

The hosts tried to press in the final period and Rutkis went close to their second goal with a smart snap-shot but Long reacted well to flick it away.

An even better chance then came and went for Swindon when Malasinski darted in unopposed on Long but he blazed over the top.

Once again, the Cats were punished in the most severe fashion as Peterborough made it 4-1 almost immediately afterwards when Lyle could not hold Tom Norton’s effort and Edgars Bebris was there to finish the job and the match as a contest.