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.

Birbraer then netted his second slapshot goal of the opening period five minutes before the first horn sounded.

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.

Nell said: “The top line has been playing really well recently – I think the three of us find it quite easy to play alongside one another because we’ve all played with each other before.

“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.”