Forward Michael Timms made his last appearance for the Invicta Dynamos on Sunday evening as the team brought a close to the regular season with a win.

Goals from Ryan Ellis (2), Callum Best and Andy Smith saw them overcome the Bristol Pitbulls 4-2 on home ice.

In the opening period a holding minor on Daniel Fudger allowed the visitors to make the better start and they grabbed the breakthrough when Nick Eden’s blue line drive was redirected right in front by Steve Osman leaving Andy Moffat no chance in net to make it 1-0.

The hosts would answer six minutes from time though as a great solo skate from Callum Best saw him counter up the right channel, skip around the outside of James Warman and send a backhand shot into the top far corner from close right to restore parity. It was an exceptional moment of individual skill that had brought the Dynamos level but, soon after, it was a fluid team move that then put them ahead.

The first line trio of Nicky Lewis, Andy Smith and Ryan Ellis scythed through the Bristol rear guard with Ellis the man to benefit from the space made in the middle with a wrist shot that rifled beyond Chris Douglas. Seconds from the buzzer it was then 3-1 as Callum Best’s neat flick sent Corey Watkins into the final third down the left side and he centred for an on-rushing Justin Noble to control before slotting between the legs of the goalie for the two goal cushion.

Having dominated the close of the first period, the Dynamos started the second strongly and claimed their fourth of the night just two minutes in. Andy Smith entered the offensive zone in the centre before teeing up an unmarked Ryan Ellis to his right – the Canadian dispatching low across Chris Douglas for 4-1.

The two teams then struggled to create further scoring opportunities until, close to time, the Pitbulls made full use of another powerplay. Whilst Tim Smith sat a hooking minor, Egidijus Bauba demonstrated the ability expected of a Lithuanian International as he skipped around the outside of Jack Tarczycki and lifted a backhand shot under the reach of Andy Moffat from close right to cut the deficit to 4-2.

With the intensity having decreased a little in the second, the game then appeared to drop another notch in the last with neither side capable of adding to their tallies. Alan Armour’s stinging slapshot from wide left was gloved by Andy Moffat whilst Andy Smith spurned the Dynamos’ best chance by shooting wide on the back stick following Tim Smith’s centre. A goalless period played out then leaving the Dynamos victorious come the buzzer with the score at 4-2.

So it was a workman-like performance for the hosts who did enough in the first period to secure a lead that would hold until the end and complete a four point weekend. After the clash, man of the match honours went to Steve Osman of the visitors whilst Michael Timms took the honours for the Dynamos in his last appearance for the side. A clearly emotional Timms then waved his goodbyes to the crowd at the Silver Blades Ice Rink Gillingham ahead of his move across the pond in the coming week.

The Dynamos are next in action next Saturday on the Isle of Wight in a ENIHL South ‘dead rubber’ cup tie with the Wightlink Raiders.

More importantly playoff dates have now been announced as follows:

1st leg playoff quarter-final – Saturday 7th April: Cardiff ENL Devils v Invicta Dynamos

2nd leg playoff quarter-final – Sunday 8th April: Invicta Dynamos v Cardiff ENL Devils – 5.15pm.

Picture by David Trevallion