SWINDON Wildcats player-coach Aaron Nell said his side “should have won” their National League clash away at Hull Pirates on Sunday after letting a two-goal lead slip to lose in 7-6 in overtime.

With the visitors 6-4 up with less than three minutes remaining on the clock, a controversial slashing penalty on Luc Johnson gave the Pirates a huge chance to reduce the deficit on the powerplay – one that they took.

Less than a minute later – and with the home netminder switched for an attacking skater – Hull equalised before completing their comeback with the winning goal in the addition five-minute period.

Following an opening-night victory over London Raiders at the Link Centre on Saturday, Nell was pleased to add another league point to his side’s tally if not a bit frustrated to arrive home in the small hours of Monday morning with half of what the coach felt they deserved.

Nell said: “We’re disappointed that we were in such a good position as we should have won the game from where we were.

“But considering how hard the players worked at a very tough rink against a very good team, I’m very proud of them because I couldn’t fault the work-rate and the effort– it was very positive.

“From where we were, we should win that game, but if you look at it from an overall point of view, we would have taken a point before the game and that point could be a very important one come the end of the season.”

Swindon got off to a poor start, conceding in the fourth minute, before Tomasz Malasinski netted a first-period hat-trick to give the Cats their first two-goal lead of the game.

The hosts tied proceedings in the middle period, courtesy of two powerplay goals, while an action-packed third period was where the majority of the scoring featured.

Max Birbraer put Nell’s side ahead before Hull equalised with less than six minutes remaining.

However, 13 seconds later, coach Nell himself helped the Cats regain the lead, while Birbraer put his side 6-4 up in the 56th minute.

With the Link Centre outfit within touching distance of making it a perfect four-point weekend, Johnson was controversially penalised for slashing and the Pirates lit the touch paper for a sensational late comeback.

The call to put his forward in the penalty box disappointed Nell, but admitted Hull deserved huge credit for the way they went about fighting for the points.

Nell said: “I thought it was a little bit of a soft penalty on Luc, actually.

“It just looked like two guys battling for the puck. I think at that point in the game, it probably doesn’t need to be called.

“Hull got three powerplay goals and we didn’t have a powerplay at all in the second or third period, so that made it tough, but they’re a very good team.

“I’ve got to give them credit because they never stop working. They’ve got so much confidence and they know they’re going to score goals.

“It was a great game, but it’s frustrating that we didn’t win.”