SWINDON Wildcats slipped to a third straight defeat in the National League on Sunday night as they were beaten 5-3 at Bracknell Bees.

It is the first time this season that Aaron Nell’s side have lost three games in a row, with both previous defeats also coming on the road.

The Cats suffered defeat at Telford Tigers seven days earlier before then going down at Sheffield Steeldogs on Friday night.

Swindon now face a fourth away game in succession as they travel to Basingstoke Bison on Boxing Day.

The two teams could not be separated over the first 20 minutes in Bracknell as no goal arrived in the opening period.

And the action remained closely fought over period two as well, although the goals did at least start to flow.

Almost half-an-hour was on the clock when the deadlock was finally broken as Roman Malinik fired the Bees ahead.

Swindon did not take long to respond and player-coach Nell brought them back level, but Bracknell got themselves back in front before the buzzer sounded as Malinik netted his second of the game to make it 2-1.

Again, the home side were the first to strike in the final period as Dominic Gabaj pushed the lead to two goals.

Tyler VanKleef reduced the arrears for the Cats but the visitors could not draw level as Josh Smith struck for Bracknell to make it 4-2.

Swindon were not going to go down without a fight and they pulled netminder Renny Marr from the ice with two minutes to go.

That decision paid off instantly as Edgars Bebris hit the back of the net to make it a one-goal game once more.

But the Cats’ hopes of sending the game to overtime were finally killed off for good with 12 seconds of the contest to go when Ryan Webb lashed home the hosts’ fifth goal to seal Swindon’s fate.