A Tim Smith double and a strike from Peter Vaisanen were not enough to prevent the Invicta Dynamos succumbing to a second Isle of Wight defeat on Saturday as the Wightlink Raiders ran out 5-3 victors at the Ryde Arena in the NIHL South Division 1.

In the opening period the hosts broke the deadlock after exactly five minutes as Alex Murray teed up former Dynamo Robbie Brown who fired beyond netminder David Wride to make it 1-0. Their lead was shortlived though as the visitors responded quickly when defenceman Tim Smith collected a Peter Vaisanen pass before shooting over the reach of goalie Matt Colclough to tie it up at 1-1.

Throughout the remainder of the period neither team were then able to add to their tallies despite Colcough being tested a total of 13 times and his opposite number facing 16 efforts.

In the second frame visiting ‘import’ Justin Noble was quickly handed a 2+10 for checking from behind and this gave the hosts the man advantage on a powerplay that they would use to their benefit. Alex Murray and Robbie Brown both claimed assists on a goal scored by Craig Tribe to make it 2-1 in the Raiders’ favour. However, once again, the Dynamos would muster a reply and they restored parity on a powerplay spell of their own.

Whilst Jeremy Cornish sat a roughing minor, Callum Best and Arran Strawson both combined before blue liner Tim Smith notched his second of the evening to make it 2-2. Despite their fightback though, the visitors would still return to the dressing rooms with a deficit to make up in the last as the home side claimed their third of the evening with just eight seconds of play remaining. Having watched his side concede an equaliser just minutes before, player/coach Jeremy Cornish made amends as he beat David Wride to make it 3-2 come the break.

In the final frame the Dynamos found their hopes of another comeback dented as two goal defenceman Tim Smith was left unable to play any further part in the tie following a fierce hit from Raiders’ ‘import’ Jiri Hanzal. Those hopes then only further diminished as the hosts struck twice in the space of six minutes to secure a comfortable three goal cushion. Richard Facey’s pass set up Jiri Hanzal whose strike was contested by netminder David Wride but awarded with the officials declaring a goal to make it 4-2.

Soon after and Facey then turned from goal provider to goal scorer when he drilled over the line following work from Alex Murray to give his side the considerable 5-2 lead. Nevertheless, the Dynamos fought on and they claimed the last of the night to cut the deficit to 5-3 when Callum Best and Anthony Leone grabbed assists with Peter Vaisanen beating netminder Matt Colclough. It would be too little too late for the visitors though who slipped to a second consecutive league defeat ahead of a home tie against Solent & Gosport the following night.

So it was ultimately further disappointment on the Isle of Wight for the travelling side but the team battled from puck drop to final buzzer and the result was largely in doubt until late in the final frame. Canadian Peter Vaisanen took the man of the match honours for the Dynamos who were minus Callum Fowler for the road trip.