The Invicta Dynamos maintained their fine league form with a comfortable 5-1 win over Oxford City Stars.
Kevin Parrish’s side kept up their great run in the NIHL South with the victory, thanks in part to Eriks Ozollapa’s hat-trick in a feisty game in Gillingham.
The Dynamos went into the game without the services of Bailey Wootton, Damien Welch and Steve Nightingale, but welcomed back both Callum Fowler and Ozollapa after the pair missed Thursday night’s South East Trophy clash in Chelmsford.
There were only 2 minutes and 55 seconds on the clock when the first fight of the night happened, Fowler tangling with Ben Ealey-Newman.
With the pair off the ice, it was down to Ozollapa to break the deadlock in the fifth minute, rounding off a great move involving both Conor Redmond and Steve Osman.
The second fight of the night came in the eleventh minute, this time it was Jack Lee’ turn to scrap with Ealey-Newman, with the Dynamos man landing the better blows.
Just over a minute later and it was game over for Adam McNicoll, with a puck flicking up into his face, with the dimunitive Scot sent to hospital to be stitched up.
At 14:10, the game was back in the balance with Oxford drawing level, Ondrej Pekarik applying the finish past Damien King.
The Dynamos netminder was clattered in the process, ending up in the goal and now it was time for Brad Gutridge and Shane Moore to go toe to toe, again with the Mo getting the better blows away.
However, hitting the ice when the two dropped, Gutridge landed on his face and he too had to head to the showers with an ice pack for company.
After the marathon first period, it was a more sedate affair in the second, with the Dynamos going back in front in the 27th minute, Redmond following up after good work from Nicky Lewis.
The Dynamos made full use of a powerplay in the 31st minute, with Fowler dancing round the back of the net before slotting the puck past Tom Annetts from an acute angle.
At 3-1 going into the final period, the Dynamos knew they still needed to be on their guard, but needn’t have worried as they stretched their advantage further in the 41st minute with Ozollapa grabbing his second of the night.
At the other end, Damien King was in inspired form, keeping out everything that came his way.
The game was finally put to bed in the 52nd minute with the Dynamos making use of another powerplay, allowing Ozollapa to complete his hat-trick, much to the delight of the import.
A dejected Stars side tried to go down with a fight, but in the end they ran out of steam and it was two more points for a Dynamos side that head to Milton Keynes on Sunday evening looking to bag another win on the road.
To listen to our exclusive interview with Eriks Ozollapa after the game, click here: