The Invicta Dynamos extended their unbeaten start to the season with a 4-2 win over London Raiders in the NIHL Southern Cup.
In their only game of the weekend, the Kent side were made to work hard for the victory against a physical Raiders side that came to Gillingham intent on causing an upset.
The Dynamos took to the ice without the services of the injured Steve Osman with Anthony Baskerville also missing from the roster, but still had nineteen players in which to call from.
There was only 42 seconds on the clock when the scoring was opened and it was the away side that took the honours as former Dynamo import Marek Nahlik was allowed too much time and space to slot home from close range against netminder Damien King who had no chance.
In what turned out to be a bruising night for both sides, Raiders JJ Pitchley came to blows with Elliott Dewey in the 7th minute with Arran Strawson wading in to help his defensive colleague.
The scores were level once again in the 12th minute as former skipper Nicky Lewis danced around the net before roofing the puck into the top of the goal leaving Raiders netminder Michael Gray grasping fresh air.
A cross check from Jack Cooper on Callum Fowler in the 19th minute saw the Dynamos skipper leave the ice with a wrist injury and despite a brief appearance in the second period, was to ultimately end his night.
At 1-1 going into that 2nd period, it was London that once again opened the scoring with Nahlik grabbing his second of the night in the 27th minute, again left with too much room to beat King.
A clash in front of the Dynamos net saw new signing Tommy Ralph offering to drop the gloves with Pitchley, but the Raiders man was having none of it.
A series of penatlies was to follow as the game got further away from an ice hockey match, and the penalty boxes being well occupied.
Finally a numerical advantage for the Dynamos was to pay dividends in the 37th minute as import Adam Rehak showed his class, slamming home after good work from Dewey and Ashley Jackson.
At 2-2 going into the final period, it was really anyone’s game, but it was the Dynamos that were to come out on top in what was fast becoming a battle.
Rehak was to claim his second of the night in the 45th minute with Mason Webster unselfishly setting up his team-mate to slot home.
Webster was to be involved in the next big bit of action in the 54th minute as he came to blows with Pitchley. The Raiders man got the first few shots off, but the former London man wasn’t to be denied and landed blow after blow before taking Pitchley down to the ice.
With less than five minutes left on the clock, the game was finally put to bed when Haydn Wootton was set up perfectly by Rehak to the delight of the home support.
In the end it wasn’t to be a true classic, but fans left Silver Blades having seen their side extend their unbeaten run and Paralympic gold medal winner Charlotte Evans MBE award the man of the match.
The Dynamos now face two very different tests next weekend with Solent Devils coming to Gillingham on Saturday night before heading to Chelmsford on Sunday evening for the clash against champions – the Chieftains, with the two league clashes proving to be ones that could define the season for the Kent side.
To listen to our exclusive interviews with Damien King and Tommy Ralph from after the game, click here:
https://audioboom.com/boos/5063418-damien-king-after-invicta-dynamos-beat-london-raiders-4-2?t=0
Pictures supplied by David Trevallion.