Callum Fowler tallied a hat-trick as the Invicta Dynamos overcame the Cardiff ENL Devils 7-4 to secure a first leg lead in their ENIHL South Playoff Quarter-Final.

With netminder Andy Moffat unavailable through illness, the Dynamos journeyed west with shot stopper Joe White stepping in to fill the void for an otherwise full strength side. The visitors then started the tie in fine form and three unanswered goals had them 3-0 up with just twenty minutes played. Canadian Justin Noble fired beyond Mike Brabon in the sixth minute to break the deadlock before the first line pairing of Andy Smith and Ryan Ellis doubled that edge – captain Smith putting the puck over the line for 2-0 midway through.

Just moments from time, and with his team shorthanded, Noble then claimed his second of the evening to put the visitors well in command as they headed back to the changing rooms.

In the second period the home side finally mustered a reply, as Louis Lockwood denied Joe White a shutout on his return, but the Dynamos quickly restored their three goal cushion as Andy Smith beat Mike Brabon to complete his brace. The teams then continued to trade goals as Jordan Powell pulled the Devils within touching distance before Callum Fowler drove in his first of the evening to keep the visitors 5-2 ahead. That edge would be cut to 5-3 ahead of the last when James Preece struck to give Cardiff a chance of turning the game around in the final period with his effort six minutes from the buzzer.

With their advantage now cut to just two, the Dynamos started the third in defiant mood and tallied their sixth of the evening to lead 6-3 – Callum Fowler notching his second of the night. Though veteran blue liner Jason Stone then pulled one back for the Devils on a powerplay soon after, the visitors were in no mood to let their grip on the tie slip and they managed a seventh close to time as the in-form Fowler completed his hat-trick and sealed the 7-4 victory.

So it was an invaluable win in the Welsh capital for the Dynamos and one that gives them every chance of stretching their playoff involvement for at least another week. Jordan Powell took the man of the match honours for the hosts whilst, in an excellent team performance, Callum Fowler was the stand-out player for the visitors with his three goals giving the side a 7-4 edge to take into game two.

The Dynamos now carry a three goal cushion into the second leg on Sunday with faceoff in Gillingham on 8th April at 5.15pm.

Picture by David Trevallion