Andy Smith’s record breaking 700th career point for the club, coupled with a man of the match performance from netminder Andy Moffat, saw the Invicta Dynamos narrowly overcome the Chelmsford Chieftains 3-2 in the ENIHL Southern Cup on Sunday evening.

In the opening period it took the hosts eight minutes to break the deadlock and it was captain Andy Smith who secured the breakthrough whilst Danny Cox sat a penalty for the visitors.

From the left post, Ryan Ellis passed the play across the crease and a waiting Smith was on hand to convert at the back stick to make it 1-0. When Chelmsford player/coach Gary Clarke was then dispatched to the box, the Dynamos doubled their lead as Ellis turned from provider to scorer and rifled a low drive from the right side around the outstretched leg of Ben Clements. Smith claimed an assist on the strike – a point that would take him to the incredible landmark of 700 after just 259 appearances for the team.

Having battled their way to a two goal cushion by the end of the first, the Dynamos were then under pressure for the majority of the second as the Chieftains sought a way back into the tie.

Netminder Andy Moffat produced a string of fine saves whilst Gary Clarke was denied by the frame of the goal to leave the score at 2-0 with forty minutes played. Chelmsford continued to have the better of the game in the last and they eventually broke their duck ten minutes from the buzzer when Danny Hammond bundled in at point blank range whilst his team were on the powerplay.

However, their comeback hopes suffered a major setback when, moments later, the Dynamos answered with Callum Best firing in on his home debut with a wrist shot from between the faceoff circles. Though the Chieftains would tally another four seconds from time, with Dwyane Newman slotting home, it would prove too little too late for the Essex outfit who fell to a narrow 3-2 loss in their first ENIHL Southern Cup outing.

So it was a return to winning ways for the Dynamos and a victory secured that sees their interest in the competition maintained. Andy Smith’s 700th point for the club was the talk of the night with the forward’s efforts greeted by chants of ‘700’ and vast amounts of pre-printed posters.

Meanwhile Andy Moffat took the man of the match award for the hosts after the netminder saved 50 of 52 shots on his goal and played a major role in keeping the two cup points in Gillingham. Forward James Ayling took the honours for the Chieftains.

The Dynamos are next in action on Sunday 13th November as they host the Romford Raiders with the puck drop at the Silver Blades Ice Rink scheduled for 5.15pm.

Picture by David Trevallion