SWINDON Wildcats face an uphill battle against Peterborough in their NIHL Playoff semi-final after their 4-2 win against the Phantoms was reversed to a 0-5 loss.

A statement released by the NIHL this afternoon confirmed the news regarding Wildcats player Joshua Francis Kelly.

Kelly had played two league games prior to last night's first leg between the Wildcats and the Phantoms.

This meant he failed to meet criteria required by the NIHL to ice in last night's game.

The NIHL rules state players must have played 25 per cent of league games to be eligible to skate in the playoffs.

Given Kelly had only skated twice, he is an ineligible player.

A statement released by the NIHL said: "On Saturday March 24 in the NIHL Britton division playoff game between Swindon Wildcats and Peterborough Phantoms, Swindon iced a player who was not playoff eligible (NIHL RoC 8.4.1/had not played 25% of league games).

"Therefore under NIHL RoC 8.6.1/Penalties, the game has been awarded 5-0 in favour of the Peterborough Phantoms."

As a result, Wildcats' 4-2 win has been reversed to a 0-5 loss with the second leg due to start in less than an hour.