SWINDON Wildcats were left to rue their slow start as they slipped to a heavy home defeat at the hands of the Peterborough Phantoms.

The visitors dominated proceedings in the first period and raced into an unassailable four-goal lead before digging in for the remaining 40 minutes of play, thanks in no small part to an imperious display from netminder Janis Auzins.

Swindon found themselves a goal down with less than a minute gone as the visitors took full advantage of an early power play, with Edgars Bebris finding the net after Donastas Kumeliauskas effort was knocked away by Stevie Lyle.

The Wildcats’ Lee Richardson attempted to atone for his early penalty with a thunderous strike that smacked against the crossbar but after soaking up some pressure, the Phantoms ruthlessly extended their lead to 3-0 thanks to Kumeliauskas’ blistering effort and Milan Baranyk’s equally-confident finish.

As the first period’s relentless pace continued, the Phantoms onslaught showed no signs of abating and when the Swindon defence were all drawn to the puck, a quick release allowed the unmarked Scott Robson to squeeze a shot home under the body of netminder Lyle.

The Wildcats set about hitting back in the second period and when Hoog set up Nell within the opening minute, Peterborough goalie Auzins made a superb diving save to deny the Swindon forward.

The duo combined again later on, with Hoog this time firing wide from Nell’s pass whilst Auzins pulled off another smart stop to deny Kenton Smith.

The Phantoms goalie remained an immovable presence as the period progressed, making a sensational save with his pads to deny the Wildcats’ Nell from close range whilst at the other end, Lyle blocked efforts from Bebris and Baranyk.

Swindon continued to make a better fist of the contest in the second period but time and again, they continued to be denied by Auzins, who made more good saves to keep out Nell and Malasinski.

The third period began with more heroics from the Peterborough goaltender, with Auzins this time denying Adam Harding before refusing to be beaten by another Nell effort just before the halfway point.

It took Oakanagan Academy youngster Toms Rutkis to finally find a way past Auzins, with the Swindon teenager, who was picked out by Hoog, slamming home for a late power play consolation goal.

But the visitors had the last laugh as Will Weldon finished off a flowing move, dinking into the net from Levers' assist.