Late show adds to away day blues

It is one of the smartest rinks in the second tier of the sport, but Phantoms are probably sick of the sight of the Link Centre.

They’ve had three trips to Swindon’s plush base this season and all have ended in frustration and disappointment.

The city side were harshly beaten 5-0 in Wiltshire early in the campaign, and lost 8-5 in their return last month after leading and being the better team for two periods.

And Phantoms were seen off by a late double-salvo on Saturday after a battling shift overcame a nightmare start.

They coughed up two short-handed goals to Swindon player-coach Aaron Nell and lost import Petr Stepanek to injury during a wretched first period.

But Ales Padelek halved the deficit 17 seconds before the buzzer to start a dramatic turnaround which continued with two powerplay strikes in

PHANTOMS

19.43 Padelek unassisted

26.29 Norton (PP) ass: Weldon/Padelek 34.29 Hazeldine (PP) ass: Padelek/J. Ferrara

55.45 J. Ferrara ass: Norton/Buglass

SWINDON

2.41 Nell (SH) ass: Malasinski

12.03 Nell (SH) ass: Birbraer

34.54 Rutkis ass: Bebris

38.21 Van Kleef (PP) ass: Birbraer/Bullas 57.48 Bebris (PP) ass: Birbraer 59.02 Rutkis ass: Jones/Liddiard

PHANTOMS Conor Pollard

SWINDON Edgars Bebris

the second period.

Player-coach Tom Norton found the net for the fifth time in three games to level, and Phantoms hit the front when borrowed defenceman Joe Hazeldine finished at the back post during another numerical advantage.

But the lead was shortlived as Swindon replied just 25 seconds later through Tom Rutkis’ solo effort.

And the Wildcats gained the upper hand late in an eventful middle stanza as import Tyler Van Kleef beat Phantoms netminder Jordan Marr.

But three further goals in the final five minutes decided the outcome.

Phantoms captain James Ferrara levelled, but immediately ran into penalty trouble.

Calls on Jarvis Hunt (diving) and Callum Buglass (tripping) just 10 seconds apart left Phantoms in a five-onthree.

Edgars Bebris soon took advantage before Rutkis sealed their fate in the final minute.