The Invicta Dynamos fell short as they suffered a narrow 3-1 defeat to second-placed Peterborough Phantoms on Sunday night.

Dynamos were without Luke Thirkettle, Callum Best, Ryan Giles and Harrison Lillis. While the visitors were missing James Ferrara, Petr Stepanek and Corey McEwen but added Ross Clarke to their roster.

Dynamos set the tone for the game as Brandon Miles shoved Taylor Romeo mid-ice. This gave Louis Colvin and Oskars Ancitis a chance to crash the net, calling Jordan Marr into action.

Joe Allen took down Bradley Bowering as the Peterborough defenceman wound up for a slapshot.

Peterborough dominating play but the Dynamos stood strong and kept the Phantoms at bay. Allen skated the puck up the ice and tried to beat Marr with a slapshot, but it was knocked aside.

Anthony Leone collided with Jarvis Hunt mid-ice, but the Dynamos captain stood strong sending the Phantoms forward down.

Behind the play Jake Stedman was elbowed by Ales Padelek but it went unnoticed by the referee.

As Leone skated across the ice, Scott Robson kneed him, and Leone stumbled. Miles stood up for his captain as he jumped into action. Miles punched Robson a couple of times before letting him drop to the floor.

Miles received a two-minute roughing penalty while the Robson sat two minutes for kneeing.

A 4-on-4 play allowed the Phantoms to dominate the game. Several players in front of the net allowed Callum Buglass to flick the puck over Connor Morris’s pads. Goal scored at 13:42.

Not long after the game was back to 4-on-4 as Stedman and Hunt were both penalised for slashing.

In front of the Dynamos net yet again, players bundled in front of Morris. Billing managed to get the puck under control and shoots. Morris made the save but the puck bounced over his pads. Phantoms led 2-0 at 18:50.

End of the first and the Dynamos trailed 0-2.

The second period started hectic as Morris left his net to play the puck but the netminder was beaten and slid to try and save the puck. Taking out the net and sending himself flying into the boards.

Behind the game once again, Phantoms Buglass buttended Miles in the face as the Dynamos forward skated past. The referee blew the whistle and Buglass sat for two minutes for high sticks.

Ondrej Zosiak took out both Thomas Norton and Robson. But was penalised for the second hit. The defenceman sat two minutes for a late hit.

Ex-Dynamo Martin Susters was shut down by Matt Foord who then proceeded to take out the Phantoms player into the boards.

Arran Strawson took his chance and stood strong as Susters ran into him, but the Phantoms forward bounced off the defenceman.

Strawson hit Susters again but this time his stick came up and hit Susters in the face, causing the Phantom to bleed. Strawson received a 5 plus game penalty for high sticks.

Dynamos managed to kill the 5 minute penalty and kept the Phantoms at bay.

Hunt hit Miles and began to speed up the ice but, Allen met him half way and ran the Phantoms player sending him down.

End of the second period and the score remained 0-2.

The third period begun, and the Dynamos came out stronger than ever.

Lewis English attempted to beat Marr but the netminder swept the puck aside.

Susters still trying to score against the Dynamos was denied but Morris twice in a row which invited chants from the Dynamos crowd.

Dynamos with a powerplay chance as Nathan Long was sent to the box for inference.

The Dynamos lined up for shots, but it was Louis Colvin with a shot from the right circle which gave the Dynamos their first goal in three games. Goal scored at 38:27 which made the score 1-2.

Phantoms were quick to retaliate as James White scored at 38:40 which secured their two-goal lead.

Miles took a shot from just behind the goal line, Munroe tried to finish the shot but Marr managed to stand firm.

Susters with another two shots on Morris but the netminder saved with ease and shoved his ex-teammate.

With just over two minutes remaining of the game, Susters was sent to the penalty box for slashing giving the Dynamos a powerplay.

Peterborough called a time out, the two netminders remained on the ice.

Powerplay over and Matt Foord showed the Phantoms one last time the strength of the Dynamos as he sent Padelek smashing into the Dynamos gate.

At the final whistle, the Dynamos were defeated 1-3 but continued to fight throughout the game. The physicality of the Dynamos kept the Phantoms at bay.