Swindon Wildcats failed to complete a double victory over Peterborough Phantoms as they went down 3-1 on Sunday night but coach Peter Russell remained upbeat and is now expecting his side to rise up the table, writes Bob Radford.

After a 7-6 win at the Link Centre on Saturday night, Wildcats went to Peterborough in confident mood but found themselves 1-0 down after the first period - Brent Gough scoring at 12.18 on the powerplay for the Phantoms.

James Archer added a second powerplay goal for the home side on 28 minutes before Matty Davies pulled a goal back at 39.09 for the visitors.

After some end-to-end hockey and an outstanding performance from Swindon netminder Nathan Craze, Russell pulled his goalie in search for an equaliser only for Nathan Renpel to score an open net goal 16 seconds from time.

Coach Russell said: "They were strong on their powerplay but it was a pretty even game.

"I thought we were going to get a draw. We lost Robin Davison on Saturday night so it was hard.

"Joel Petkoff has arrived to give us that edge and he will get sharper once he trains and gets used to his lines.

"We have games in November where I expect to be picking up points and our target now is to climb up that table."

Russell refused to comment further on the futures of Marek Hornak and Erik Bochna with both on notice', although he did say of the latter: "He worked hard and was very fast."

MATCH DETAILS Cats scorers: Davies 1+0, Brittle 0+1, Richardson 0+1. Period scores: 1-0, 1-1, 1-0 = 3-1. Shots on goal: Peterborough 45 Swindon 19. Penalty minutes: Peterborough 14 Swindon 8 n On Saturday night Bochna's hat-trick secured Wildcats' second home victory in six matches on and may be enough to keep himself in a job.

Of the four Slovakian imports, the two forwards have been the most disappointing this season.

But Bochna got the nod over Hornak - who made way for the returning Petkoff.

Swindon started brightly and went three goals up in the first period. Lee Cowmeadow laid on scoring chances converted well by Robin Davison and Adam Brittle.

Cats lost centre Davison with a knee ligament injury at 9.22 in a tripping incident which saw key Peterborough's Jon Cotton awarded a match penalty Seventeen seconds into the resulting powerplay Matthew Davies netted a third.

Peterborough pulled netminder Stephen Wall and his replacement Euan King stemmed the tide.

Cats however collected three penalties in under a minute and with a two-man advantage James Archer pulled one back.

The two-goal lead at the first break soon disappeared with a straight hat-trick for Gough.

Nathan Craze was at fault for at least two of the goals, but Peterborough's fifth in the first minute of the final period was a nightmare for Swindon.

Archer's shot at 40.53 hit Craze in the chest and the puck went over his shoulder and into the net.

Russell then pulled Craze, replaced by Joe White, and he rode his luck, keeping the puck out.

Two goals down, Swindon suddenly bounced back into life.

Davies grabbed his second on the powerplay at 46.53 and just 16 seconds later, along with Petkoff, helped set up Bochna to score.

Bochna added two more to leave Cats leading 7-5 White was finally beaten at 53.16, but Swindon held on for a win that wasn't classy but was a good night's entertainment.

MATCH DETAILS Swindon scorers: Bochna 3 goals 0 assists; Davies 2+1; Davison 1+1; Brittle 1+0; Cowmeadow, Petkoff and Michael Farn 0+2.

Period scores: Cats 3 Phantoms 3-1; 0-3; 4-2 = 7-6 Shots on goal: Cats 29 Phantoms 33 (17 each on Craze and White) Penalty minutes: Cats 8 Phantoms 39 Man of the Match: Erik Bochna