Saturday 2nd November – Wildcats 5-2 Raiders
SWINDON Wildcats made it seven wins in a row in the National League following a 5-2 success over London Raiders at the Link Centre on Saturday night.
After three consecutive four-point weekends in a row, Aaron Nell’s men came into their first home fixture of the month knowing their toughest obstacle preventing a fourth weekend maximum would likely come in the form of a talented Raiders outfit.
But the home side made the best possible start after Nell, Tomasz Malasinski and Max Birbraer combined to put the Cats in front.
The Raiders pulled one back midway through the game, only for captain and player of the month Nell to make it 3-1 seconds before the end of the second period.
Raiders’ Aaron Connolly netted his brace 23 seconds after the restart to make it 3-2 before Floyd Taylor rounded stretched the advantage once again with a well-taken wrist shot from close range.
And it was Nell who had the final say, squeezing an effort into the net to make it seven wins in a row.
The player-coach was delighted his team were able to secure another home win, but the 30-year-old admitted the second period was not good enough from his players.
Nell said: “I don’t think it was our best performance and we rode our luck in the second period, but we bounced back in the third after letting in an early goal and I’m always happy to win.
“It was a little less frantic than in the previous game, but we did our best during the second period to make it that way again.
“We had a good first period, but a poor second and we were lucky to get out of the period with a lead.
“Renny (Marr) had to make some big saves too, but when the players are working that hard in practice and in matches, sometimes you deserve that luck.”
Swindon’s top line of Nell, Malasinski and Birbraer accounted for eight of the home side’s 10 points against the Raiders, and the player-coach said it is a real pleasure to play alongside both while singling out Malasinski for helping Nell to raise his own game.
“I think Tomasz has lifted mine and Max’s game – the speed he plays with, you’ve got to try and keep up with him.
“At the minute, it’s working and me and Max are able to keep up with him.”
Sunday 3rd November – Lightning 1-5 Wildcats
SWINDON Wildcats completed a fourth perfect weekend in a row in the National League with a 5-1 victory away at Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday night.
Aaron Nell’s side were 5-2 winners at home to London side Raiders on Saturday and managed to improve on that scoreline against Lightning 24 hours later to make it eight league wins in a row.
Chris Jones fired Swindon ahead early in the first period but the buzzer sounded with the score all-square as Cale Tanaka restored parity for Milton Keynes.
That was as close the hosts would get to victory on the night, though, as efforts from Toms Rutkis and Tomasz Malasinski moved the Cats 3-1 ahead in the second period.
The onslaught continued in the final session and further efforts from Sam Bullas and Edgars Bebris completed Swindon’s five-star haul.
