Four goals from Tomas Banovsky, a brace from Ashley Jackson and further goals from Anthony Leone, Mason Webster, Luke Thirkettle and Richard Harris saw the Invicta Dynamos record a hefty 10-5 victory over the Milton Keynes Thunder in the league on Saturday.

The Dynamos saw Henry Aiken and Ashley Jackson return from the sizeable absentee list the week before but were still without Brandon Webster, Tommy Ralph, Billy Phillips, Matt Foord, Juraj Huska and Joshua Condren.

In the opening frame the hosts were off the mark quickly – at 01.37 Tomas Banovsky went on a solo skate that saw him beat two through the middle and another out wide before slotting beyond netminder Matthew Friend at point blank range to make it 1-0. At 04.04 Banovsky was then subject of a hit that saw tempers flare – Daniel Tamasauskas folded the Slovakian into the boards with a hit from behind and Mason Webster immediately stepped in for retribution landing a number of blows on his opponent. Seconds later Henry Aiken also jumped in prompting Nathan Darmanin to intervene and tussle with the Mos blue liner. Tamasauskas had no answer to Webster and an enraged Aiken overcame Darmanin before the officials then gathered to dish out the penalties. Remarkably Tamasauskas escaped any punishment for the initial check instead receiving 2 for roughing, Webster took 2 for roughing and a 10 minute misconduct and Aiken received a game misconduct for third man in.

When the action restarted the Thunder were next on the board – at 05.19 Connor Goode swept the puck across the crease from the left wing and Hayden Hagger was on hand to fire beyond Owen Rider at the back stick to make it 1-1. The Mos answered quickly – at 06.04 a shot from Anthony Leone set up a goalmouth scramble with both Richard Harris and Ashley Jackson snapping at the puck and Jackson the man to force over the line for 2-1. At 16.29 it was 3-1 – Cole McCluskey’s attempted pass dropping to Tomas Banovsky on the inside edge of the right circle and he wasted little time in slamming a slapshot inside the near post beyond Matthew Friend for his second of the night. The Thunder kept in touch though – at 16.40 Harrison Lillis lost out to Gareth O’Flaherty allowing him in behind all alone and he lashed past Owen Rider from close right to make it 3-2.

In the second frame the frantic nature of the game continued with neither team defending well. At 23.04 the Mos took advantage of a tripping minor on Daniel Tamasauskas to claim their fourth of the night – a neat passing move ending with Mason Webster putting the puck to the crease where Anthony Leone poked home. Again the visitors replied though – at 23.52 Oliver Harris blew past the Mos back line with a terrific turn of pace to go in all alone and he beat Owen Rider from close right to make it 4-3.

Come 32.30 the Dynamos pulled away again – Joe Allen jumping on a loose puck on the back of the right circle and firing to the crease where Ashley Jackson diverted beyond Matthew Friend for his second of the night. And at 33.02 they had another – Mason Webster finding Tomas Banovsky in the left circle who used some quick stick work to get a clear shot before slotting inside the near post beyond the netminder for 6-3. On the goal Thunder blue liner Antti Kohvakka pushed out at Banvosky earning himself a minor penalty for roughing but his team still struck back without him to cut the deficit to two whilst shorthanded. At 33.47 the Mos failed to clear the zone allowing Connor Goode to find Harrison Goode right in front and he drilled a one-timer through the five hole to make it 6-4.

In the final period the Mos finally pulled away. At 42.34 Tomas Banvosky claimed his fourth and last of the night – the Slovak jinked in from the left boards before dispatching a low backhand shot between the legs of Matthew Friend for 7-4. Milton Keynes hit back at 44.39 – a cross ice pass finding Tom Carlon alone at the far post and he lifted over Owen Rider to put the visitors back within two. It would be their last of the night though as the home side hit three more before the evening was out to seal a comfortable win.

The first of the trio came at 45.02 – Banovsky winning an offensive faceoff, Karl Lennon passing to between the circles and Mason Webster firing inside the right post with a one-timer to add his name to the list of scorers. At 47.55 Harrison Lillis fired at goal from the left boards and Luke Thirkettle added a touch in mid-air to take the puck beyond the reach of Matthew Friend for 9-5. And at 49.52 the hosts had double figures – Friend initially doing very well to deny Richard Harris from close left but his defence offering him little help and allowing Harris to bundle in the rebound from point blank range for 10-5.

So it was a an emphatic victory come the final buzzer and in truth the Mos should have been out of sight sooner but for some questionable defending that repeatedly allowed their opponents to remain interested in the tie. Nevertheless it was a return to winning ways and a needed morale boost after the disappointment of the NIHL Southern Cup Final the weekend before. Man of the match honours went to Mason Webster of the Dynamos and Cole McCluskey of the Thunder.

Picture supplied by David Trevallion.