SWINDON Wildcats are still yet to win a league game in front of their own fans after falling to a 4-2 defeat to Basingstoke Bison.

Swindon have not won a home league match in five attempts now after a second defeat at the Link Centre in the space of two days.

It was a spirited performance from Swindon who were the better side for much of the contest.

Ciaran Long opened the scoring for the visiting side in the first period before Wildcats captain Jan Kostal brought the game back level.

Aaron Connolly put Bison back in the lead just a minute later, but after a strong display in the second period saw Swindon restore parity for a second time through Aaron Nell.

However the lead was short lived again as Mirsolav Vantroba swept the puck home from the blue line to restore the visitors lead and they secured the win in the final minute through Joe Rand with two Cats in the sin bin.

Swindon started the game full of intent and had the first real chance of the match fell to Henri Sandvik when he was found by Nell open standing on the post but his shot from close range is blocked by Dean Skinns.

It was Basingstoke who took the lead, against the run of play with a clinical finish in the 11th minute.

Joe Greener on the left found Long who pokes the puck home at the near post, to delight the gathering of travelling fans.

With Whitfield in the sin bin for slashing, Nell was able to break in the 15th minute and despite his shot going wide, skipper Kostal was on hand to pick up the rebound off the back wall and slam the puck home.

Parity did not last long though, and shot from the left from the Bison captain Connolly was able to just sneak in-between an unsighted Lyle and the post.

Swindon were the dominant side in the second period but even when they had a two man advantage on the ice they still could not find a way past Skinns.

The goal did eventually come for the home side in the 35th minute, a goal that was given to Nell on the night.

Nell was behind the goal and fired a shot into the d and it appeared to come off the foot of Sandvik and into the net.

All Swindon's hard work in the period was undone minutes later though, with Moore in the sin-bin, Van Troba was found on the blue line and he fired a fine effort into the top left corner.

Swindon continued to dominate in the third period with Ollie Betteridge and Kostal both going close but somehow the puck remained out of the Bison net.

The game fell into chaos in the final minute of the game as both Smith and Whitfield were sent to the bin and Moore was sent from the ice for showing his anger at the refereeing decision.

With the two man advantage Rand was able to score to secure the win for the visiting side.