Invicta Dynamos came away from Milton Keynes with a crucial two goal lead heading into Sunday’s second leg showdown. 
The Dynamos lined-up only minus Brad Gutridge as Mark McGill started in the nets ahead of Mark Lee.
The Thunder started the brighter in the first period with import Piotr Poziomkowski producing the first save of the game from Mark McGill on the first minute before Billy Phillips registered the Dynamos first shot just part the three minute mark.
A bench penalty on the Thunder for too many men on the ice was to be a costly mistake when the Dynamo took full advantage to score through Andy Smith on 05:51 after good build-up play Michal Oravec and Callum Fowler.
The one goal lead gave the Dynamos some momentum with shots coming from Callum Fowler, Arran Strawson and Billy Phillips before Invicta went 2-0 up. Arran Strawson won possession of the in his own half before playing a long pass through to Juraj Huska who dummied a shot, took a deke and then placed the puck under the body of MK netminder Damien King.
A penalty of Dynamos Elliott Dewey gave the Thunder a powerplay which they turned into a goal from Alex Whyte’s second attempt and shooting past Mark McGill on 28:36 after his initial shot was saved by the Scottish netminder, assists for the goal coming from Ryan Coffey and Piotr Poziomkowski. Having just scored and only a goal behind the Thunder took the game to the Dynamos for the remainder of the second period but the defence and Mark McGill stood firm to close out the period.
Juraj Huska, Nicky Lewis and Anthony Leone all had shots saved by the busy Damien King in the third period with both teams knowing in the back of their minds the next goal could be crucial, and it was the Dynamos who got that goal on 49:33 through some magic from Michal Oravec. The Dynamos import received the puck in his own defending zone from Antony Leone before carrying the puck the entire distance, beating a few opponents before slipping the puck past King to make it 3-1 to the away side.
Mark McGill was on hand to deny Harrison Goode on 51:53 whilst the Mo’s almost had chances fall to Adam McNicoll and Callum Fowler before the game closed.
Alex Whyte and Andy Smith picked-up the man of the match awards with the game heading to what should be a great showdown at Gillingham on Sunday evening.