Nell full Of Praise For Cats After Overtime Win At Deeside

Wildcats head coach Aaron Nell was full of praise for his side following their hard-fought overtime win against Manchester Phoenix on Sunday; a win which saw a second four point weekend for the Swindon outfit.

"We started early which was good," Nell told Total Sport following thhe full-time buzzer.

"I challenged the third line today, we had a little chat. They have been a massive credit to our club and them playing like they are has really improved our team. They had a little wobble but that's fine, they are young and they are learning.

"The third line may well be our most important line. If they (Bullas, Taylor and McEwen) carry on playing like they're playing we're going to be successful. They're three very good players and three very different players and they complement each other really well. They are enjoying it, I've given them a bit more rope and more responsibility and they have taken that.

"Yesterday (against Hull Pirates) they were very poor, but we had a chat about that and they came back tonight and they were great and showed good character," Nell added.

The addition of Corey McEwen to the third line is also something Nell believes has worked well, as he shuffles his pack to make Wildcats as competitive as possible.

"Corey is perfect for the third line. He's got a lot of responsibility. It would probably be easier for him playing on a higher line because he would have two imports to play with, but where he's at now he's taking on a lot of responsibility. 

"Those days of two good lines are gone. We need to be successful and we need to have three good lines and we have that now. If the third don't perform they know they've got others snapping at their heels, we've got a lot of competition for places," Nell added.

The victory at Deeside was a culmination of grit and determination, and Nell was quick to credit his players after defeating an opposition with some very dangerous personnel.

"We worked hard all night and Manchester have got some good players, like Gron - he's unbelievable and very tough to handle. Whenever he is on the ice they are always dangerous," said Nell.

"It was disappointing to give up a point but to come back in the overtime was great and we're happy with the four points.

"The early goal was a big goal and it settled us down. Manchester scored two nice goal and got a very tight one at the end of the third, so maybe they deserved their point tonight. But I felt we deserved our two," Nell added.

Wildcats were able to push for the win thanks to a save of the very highest class from netminder Stevie Lyle, deep into overtime. Something Nell was quick to mention.

"We soaked up the pressure really well tonight. Stevie Lyle had to make some tight saves - you won't see a better one than he made at the end of overtime. I put my head down as I thought it was a goal, but he made the save of the season, it was unbelievable/ But that's what we've got here. we've got some very good players," said Nell.

"We're very lucky with some of the players we have in our dressing room. We have some very good pros - Lyle, Liddiard, Malasinski and Kostal, and we've all got to look up to them.

"The result tonight was massive. I think in the last six or seven years we have won once in Manchester and we've probably lost about 20, it's always a tough place for us to come.

"We didn't let our heads go down when they scored their last goal tonight - we do need to work on our last 30 seconds of games and hold our nerve when they pull their goalie because that has happened for two of the last three weeks," Nell added.

With a full squad constantly vying for positions on the ice, Nell admitted team selection is not always the easiest thing to do.

"It's tough for me at times because I want to play guys but sometimes I cant, but that's hockey," Nell said, before acknowledging the prospect of overtime was daunting, but part and parcel of the game.

"We were going to overtime and that's hockey, it happens. You get some bounces and their goal which led to overtime wasn't anyone's fault. Manchester have great players and if they have 30 seconds to set up a goal they're always going to have a chance. 

"We showed some character, we were good in overtime and didn't panic and all that matters is we got the two points. 

After calling his troops in for a time-out in the dying moments, Nell revealed his message to the team was to simply relax.

"Just to relax, and go for it." said Nell.

"You have to be smart in overtime and go for it when you get the chance and we know if we do that we are going to win. We've got enough good players in our team to win in overtime and we've been successful so far.

"We'll have a nice bus trip home now, but we've got to get back to it next week."