SWINDON TOWN: Reaching for the top (From Swindon Advertiser)

SWINDON TOWN: Reaching for the top

7:50am Friday 29th January 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

SWINDON Wildcats face a sizeable double-challenge as they host table-topping Milton Keynes Lightning tomorrow before travelling to Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday on a crucial English Premier League weekend.

After last Saturday’s penalty shots success over the visiting Phantoms, Cats have pushed themselves to within two points of Bracknell Bees in the final play-off spot.

And now player-coach Ryan Aldridge wants his squad to realise their potential and make a latter-season advance up the league table, although he recognises that this weekend’s games will be a stern test of the resolve of his players.

“Milton Keynes are obviously a side who are doing well defensively, and that’s why they’re top of the league,” said Aldridge.

“They are only fourth or fifth top-scorers and that shows how well they’ve done to be top.

“We don’t score many goals ourselves and so we know that we have to take our chances when we get them, especially at home.

“We can’t sit back and we have to keep our confidence up.”

The shining light of last week’s Link Centre victory over Peterborough was netminder Chris Douglas, who Aldridge claims will remain at the club for the season’s duration.

The 30-year-old registered close to an extraordinary 97 per cent saves-to-shots ratio against the Phantoms and may well be the final admission to the Cats’ squad, with the transfer window closing at the end of the month.

“Chris is here until the end of the season,” said Aldridge, who admitted that it was unlikely that any further signings would be made.

“I’m browsing for who is available but it depends on budget and finance and the chance of anyone else coming is looking pretty slim.

But the Wildcats chief is well aware that his current crop have the ability to overcome at least Peterborough after last week’s display, and he insists that two points are obtainable when Cats make the trip to the Cambridgeshire club on Sunday.

“Peterborough are tough to play and it is a difficult place to go,” he said.

“It’s a dirty, dingy dressing room and a freezing rink and it’s very hard to get warmed up there.

“But we know we are more than capable of winning there, we just have to play our systems for the full 60 minutes.”