SWINDON Wildcats captain Joe Baird is confident his side can make an impact in the play-offs after ending the regular season with a 7-3 victory over Bracknell Bees last night.

Wildcats take on Manchester Phoenix in the opening round of the post-season after finishing seventh in the English Premier League, with the first leg at the Link Centre next Saturday night.

Baird is convinced his side will do well, especially after their big win over the Bees which followed an 8-3 victory over the lowly Telford Tigers at the Link Centre the previous night.

“I know we can make an impact because we have been playing very well recently, and we go into the play-offs confident,” Baird told the Advertiser.

“Aaron Nell and Jonas Hoog have been exceptional recently, and Michal Pinc, Joroslav Cesky and Nicky Watt have all stepped up too.

“It doesn’t matter who we play because they will all be tough, but I am sure we will give Manchester a good game.

“It was good to end the regular season well with a win against Bracknell, and that will stand us in good stead going forwards.”

Things started well for Wildcats in Bracknell, with youngster Loris Taylor giving Ryan Aldridge’s side the lead early on in the contest with what was only his second goal of the season.

Nell made it 2-0 soon after, before Taylor added his second of the night to make it 3-0.

Bees came out for the second period in a different frame of mind, and their added focus was soon rewarded as goals from Rob Lamey and Peter Jasic hauled them back into the contest.

But they were not close for long.

A big shot from Lee Richardson restored Wildcats’ cushion, before coach Aldridge added one himself with 27 seconds left in the period.

Nicky Watt found the net against his former club to make it 6-2 in the third, before Nell added another to make it seven.

The home side did grab one back through James Galazzi, but it was not enough to threaten the visitors’ lead.

Swindon also started quickly against Telford at the Link Centre, with Nell following up on a shot to put the puck home from close range.

But they were not ahead long, as a peculiar goal tied the scores.

Home netminder Dean Skinns was caught out after Scott McKenzie’s stick snapped while attempting a slap shot, and the puck trickled home to level things up But ‘Cats soon regained their advantage, with Czech import Michal Pinc beating the visiting netminder.

Jan Melichar got in on the act as his shot trickled home, before Pinc added a second after tapping in a rebound A four on three breakaway saw Nell in on the netminder, and the Great Britain hopeful made no mistake as his shot fired into the Tigers’ net.

Leading scorer Jonas Hoog added his side’s sixth before Tigers grabbed another back through Adam Taylor.

The night belonged to both Pinc and Nell, and the import soon completed the first hat-trick of the evening with a well struck shot.

Adam Brittle scored another consolation, before Nell completed the evening’s scoring with his third goal, to send his side into the play-offs on a high.