Invicta Dynamos fan Lee Allen looks back at the last few weeks of the season and the joys of doing parkruns in his exclusive blog.
Friday 25th September
With us playing Chelmsford on Thursday 1st October, I work on my bits for the programme during the evening. Ex-Dynamo Tim Smith (aka Chips & Gravy) will be featured this week.
I also bump into the lodger (Strawson) who I haven’t seen much of this week due to work etc.
Arran tells me he went to the team house today and spoke to both imports – well, I say spoke, apparently Eriks Ozollapa told Arran he needs to speak slowly as his Yorkshire accent makes his English hard to understand.
Saturday 26th September
Every Saturday morning myself, Steve Wolfe (Kent Sports News), Brendon Davey (steward) and our families all run in local park runs, typically at Maidstone and Great Lines. We would welcome anyone to join us on a gentle 5k run.
After watching my local football team win 3-1, I spend the evening in the pub watching England lose to Wales in the rugby before heading home and giving Straws a couple of games of NIHL on the Xbox….we are currently tied at one victory each, so a decider will be played soon.
Sunday 27th September
Game day!
The best possible start to the day came before our NIHL Southern Cup game versus London Raiders – the new home jerseys arrived.
The first period of the game would see the Dynamos mainly attacking with a man or two advantage with the London Raiders repeatedly receiving minor penalties.
Bailey Wootton (2) and Ondrej Zosiak fired three powerplay goals with the Dynamos seemingly comfortable. Visiting netminder Michael Gray repeatedly took swipes at the Mo’s and finally got penalised for taking a dig at Jacob Ranson behind the play.
Soon after the start of the second period Eriks Ozollapa shot in off the legs of Gray to give the Dynamos a 4-0 lead. At the other end of the pad, Mark McGill denied London Raiders on a couple of occasions to keep the lead healthy.
The game was paused just after 25 minutes following a check from Mason Webster which caught Joshua Condren, resulting in the Dynamos forward needing assistance off the ice.
Brad Gutridge dropped the gloves to fight Mason Webster – but despite getting the first punch in, Gutridge ended-up being grounded first.
The fight inspired London, and goals from ex-Dynamos Michal Oravec and Marek Nahlik put London just 4-2 behind at the end of the second period.
You could tell how crucial the next goal was to either team, and it was Invicta who got that goal early into the third period from Jacob Ranson for 5-2. Nicky Lewis quickly followed-up to make it 6-2.
Mason Webster clocked-up more penalty minutes (2+10) for checking from behind at 43.28 give the Mo’s another powerplay which was taken advantage of on 45.24 through Ondrej Zosiak who hit a fine slapshot from the blue line for 7-2.
Michael Gray was shortly replaced afterwards for ex-Dynamo Davey Jackson. Marek Nahlik and Frankie Harvey scored for London later in the period but it was Invicta who held on for a 7-4 victory.
After the game, my daughter and her friends take great delight in having photos done with the players – especially Eriks Ozollapa who dresses to look a bit like 007!
The players are great with the kids, and photos, autographs and chats are never a problem.
Thursday 1st October
Game day!
Well this is a first for a few years – a Thursday evening game. Not only is it a first opportunity to see the Chelmsford Chieftains in action, who on paper are probably favourites to win everything, but it’s also the return of last season’s captain Anthony Leone and popular ex-Dynamo goal scoring machine Juraj Huska.
The game ends in a 4-2 (Southeast Trophy) defeat, Ondrej Zosiak and Adam McNicoll scoring for the Dynamos, with Matt Turner, Juraj Huska, Lukas Zatopek and James Ayling scoring for the visitors.
Chelmsford’s Grant Bartlett and Dynamos’ Jack Lee dropped the gloves in the 35th minute, whilst injuries to Andy Henderson and Adam McNicoll would put their weekend games into doubt.
Saturday 3rd October
Game day!
Before the game it was the traditional parkrun, with the venue being Great Lines today.
Dynamos steward Brendon Davey didn’t join us today as he is due to run a half marathon on Sunday, but fellow Dynamos fan and Kent Sports News Managing Editor Steve Wolfe was in attendance to set our paces.
For me, I manage a personal best at 5 kilometres.
As I get home from the parkrun it’s time to get some lunch and get ready to pack my bag for the away game at Streatham. Every season my bag seems to get heavier, contents including shirts and things to enable me to do match reports, audio interviews and Twitter updates etc.
My lodger (Strawson) seems to have attracted a new nickname from Nicola and the girls, “Roger the Lodger” – I’m still sticking to Straws at the moment.
“Roger the Lodger” tells me he likes playing at Streatham as he tends to get a goal there and his general performance always seems to go well – maybe a good sign for later?
I always find the drive to Streatham one of the worst ones for me, the distance isn’t too bad, just the consistent stop and starting once you hit that London traffic can be a mare.
Anyway, once we battle through the traffic and park-up, we find the pub Dynamos fans normally gather-up at is closed…..a quick diversion and we find a nice little pub behind the rink.
The one thing I like about away games is all the Mos fans are pleasant to each other and it’s a great ‘togetherness’ feel amongst us.
Anyway, into the game and Streatham have a game plan to intimidate and get into the faces of the young Dynamos and imports, Eriks Ozollapa in particular gets rough treatment all game but he later gets the perfect revenge.
Streatham take the lead through Adam Wood on 7:57, Arran Strawson pulls Dynamos level a couple minutes later, only for Joe Allen to restore Streatham’s advantage on 12:10 through a shorthanded goal.
Into the second period and Eriks Ozollapa pulled Invicta level on 28:05. Sticks, gloves and helmets were in the air and ice on 34:03 as a huddle of players traded blows and insults near the Invicta bench which eventually resulted in three players from each side being sent to the penalty box.
Steven Fisher put Streatham 3-2 ahead on 45:59 and despite being behind for a third time the spirit of the Dynamos didn’t diminish – it increased.
A Jack Tarczycki penalty gave Invicta a powerplay which gave Arran Strawson the opportunity to venture forward and claim his second goal of the night, rounding his marker and back-flicking the puck beyond David Wride into the net.
Just as I was tweeting the Strawson goal on the Invicta Twitter account, Eriks Ozollapa broke clear of the Streatham defence and put Invicta into the lead – 2 goals in 7 seconds. My tweeting fingers had to work overtime to tweet two goals (and the assists), whilst also celebrating with my friends.
The Dynamos held on to secure a vital away win, with Mark McGill also pulling-off some impressive saves in the third period. “Roger the Lodger” gets man of the match for his two goals, I might buy him a beer when it’s convenient next time.
After the game I do my very first audio interview with Kevin Parrish – something I agreed to do for away games this season with Steve Wolfe.
To be honest, I think I sounded nervous when asking the questions and probably should have done better…….I’m sure the more I do, the better it will be. I’ve not really mastered a style or catchphrase yet…I was tempted to use Steve’s “Kevin you must be delighted………” but I will get my own in time.
I do admire Kevin and the players for doing the interviews, other clubs don’t (or maybe won’t) do them. I’m sure at times the last thing they want to do is an interview straight after a game having been in the thick of the action.
Anyway, after the usual battle through the London traffic I get home to write my match report for Kent Sports News and go to bed to watch some TV.
Next thing I hear is Arran coming home (he travelled via the coach),’ knock, knock’ on my door……”have you got an ice pal” he asked.
Our two goal scoring machine had bumps and bruises from the physical game earlier today, a few ice packs later and he is happy…..well until we removed one pack that we taped to his wrist, the tape wasn’t easily coming away from his wrist hair, so pulling it was the only solution, there was more ginger hair on the tape than what remained on his wrist.
Match report and audio link: http://www.kentsportsnews.com/streatham-redskins-3-4-invicta-dynamos-03-10-2015/
Sunday 4th October
Game day!
Before the game, I decided to take my youngest daughter Lucy to a junior parkrun at the Strand where Steve also takes his daughter (Ellie) to…a gentle 2k run which parents can join in with too.
A special mention to Dynamos steward Brendon Davey, who completed a half marathon in Tonbridge in a time of 2:27.27 – well done mate.
Back on hockey matters – it’s our third game in 4 days, and away to Chelmsford a real test on the players. Joining the family in the drive to Chelmsford is Jean aka ‘Harrys Nan’ (Nan of Harrison Lillis), the drive to Chelmsford breezes by in no time with Jean keeping us entertained.
I have got to be honest, Chelmsford isn’t one of my favourite rinks, purely down to the restricted view you get from the away end.
The game ends in an 11-0 defeat and a couple of fights on the ice. “Roger the Lodger” winning his fight against Cameron Bartlett and Harrison Lillis putting up a good fight with Grant Bartlett, but despite putting up a tough show gets put down first.
One thing I did find hard, tweeting 11 goals against and none for just adds to the long night. We must remember this is virtually a new team, a much younger one at that and there will be ups and downs. The team showed against Streatham they have the spirit to bounce back from this defeat.
I managed to catch the injured Adam McNicoll for an interview after the game, I don’t think he had much choice, I can run faster than he can hobble on his crutches.
After dropping ‘Harrys Nan’ off at home it’s back to sunny Sheppey and think on how I’m going to write a match report on tonight’s game.
Match report and audio interview link: http://www.kentsportsnews.com/chelmsford-chieftains-11-0-invicta-dynamos-04-10-2015/