PLAYER-COACH Aaron Nell saluted the second-period fireworks that helped set up a comfortable night's work for the Swindon Wildcats as they comprehensively dismissed Invicta Dynamos 7-1 at the Link Centre tonight.

Nell's side fell behind seven minutes into the first period, but Nell levelled before the end of the first 20 minutes and a five-goal burst in the middle section effectively decided the contest as Jan Kostal, two from Floyd Taylor, Sam Bullas and Nell again put the home side in command.

Max Birbraer added the seventh goal in the final stanza to complete a highly satisfactory evening for Nell.

"We were really good in the second period and I was very happy,'' said the Cats chief.

"We haven't done that enough really this year, to kick on when we've got a lead. It's something we've wanted to do for a while and I'm really happy we did it tonight.

"I thought we scored some nice goals and we were going to the net hard and got some of the easy ones. That's what you need to do if you're going to be successful.

"When we did get ahead by two or three goals we did keep kicking on and that is very important for us.

"We got some nice goals for the fans tonight and there was a couple of fights and it was good that we protected out goalie tonight. We're very happy and just looking forward to tomorrow (in the NIHL Cup at Telford) now.''

The match marked the home farewell for D-man Sam Zajac, who is leaving to take up a career with Royal Mail after tomorrow night's NIHL Cup match at Telford.

Nell added: "He's been great when he's been here. He's a great person and a great player and we're gutted he's leaving.

"We did everything we possibly could to keep him but he's got an opportunity he couldn't turn down. We wish him the best and hopefully we can get a win for him tomorrow to send him off.

"We've played Telford a lot this year and we've had success but it's been close and we need to make sure to get another win in the cup to get qualification as early as possible and if we win tomorrow we're in a great spot.''

Invicta stunned the Link Centre crowd as Ondrej Zosiak netted the opener after 7:17 of period one, assisted by Callum Fowler, but Nell levelled on 16:00 off assists by Chris Jones and Zajac to ensure honours were even at the first break.

The home floodgates opened in the second period as Kostal netted at 22:21 off a Jones assist, followed by Taylor's first on 25:19, with Luc Johnson and Bullas involved in the build-up.

Bullas netted on 26:45, courtesy of Taylor and Zajac's work before Zajac and Birbraer set up Nell for his second at 28:29.

Taylor's second followed at 34:44 and the scoring was completed on 45:11 as Jones and Zajac teed up Birbraer.