VICTORY may have been secured in their latest match, but it was by no means straight-forward for the Deeside Dragons.

Dragons were favourites to see off lowly Sheffield Scimitars in their latest NIHL Division One North encounter.

While a 4-2 outcome was eventually delivered, Deeside didn’t have things all their own way against a Sheffield side that made the trip with only 10 players.

“Sheffield really out-worked us in a lot of areas,” said Dragons’ assistant head coach Matt Compton.

“Credit to Sheffield and most of our players weren’t really on it and went away from the structure we had.

“We did get a win, which is a good positive.

“But I think we’ve got to go back to basics with the team.”

There was a good start from the Deeside outfit, who built-up a 2-0 advantage by the end of the first period.

Brodie Jesson set up Alex Parry for an early opener and it was soon Parry at the double following good work by Jared Dickinson.

“We weren’t running away of dominating the game and Matt Croyle made some really good saves,” added Compton.

“He made a good save at the end of the first period and another one in the second period.

“The 2-0 scoreline didn’t reflect the way the game was going.”

Sheffield did manage to pull one back to halve their deficit, however Jesson got his name on the scoresheet for the Dragons following good play by Parry and Dickinson.

Scimitars cut the gap between the teams down to a solitary goal in the third period and things were a bit nervy for the home side.

Victory was assured in the closing couple of minutes, though, with Karl Bacon setting up Ross Kennedy for the decisive fourth goal.

Dragons’ MVP on the night was Alex Parry.

In a post on their X site, the Scimitars said: “Thanks to all the @dragonsihc fans for coming and creating such a great atmosphere!”

Other results: Hull Jets 5 Nottingham Lions 4; Widnes Wild 1 Whitley Warriors 5; Billingham Stars 4 Blackburn Hawks 2; Nottingham Lions 2 Widnes Wild 5; Whitley Warriors 4 Solihull Barons 7.