Five Invicta Dynamos were on target as the Invicta Dynamos narrowly edged out the Slough Jets 6-5 in an end-to-end thriller in Gillingham on Sunday night.

The Jets made the better start to the tie with the Mos falling afoul of early penalties and they took a deserved lead at 06.56 – Mason Webster fanning on a pass allowing Bradley Hildreth to seize possession point blank right and slot beyond Ben Clements for 1-0.

Surprisingly that would be the only goal of the frame despite Stanislav Lascek escaping in behind all alone, Juraj Huska bearing down on goalie Brett Shepherd and Anthony Leone hitting the post. Before the clock was up we had time for some flared tempers – Brandon Webster and then Mason Webster exchanging shoves with Tyton Cathcart after a scramble in the Slough crease resulting in all picking up minor penalties.

After an almost goal barren opening period, the second was a goal fest in comparison. The Mos started the scoring at 24.19 – Harrison Lillis preventing the puck clearing the zone with possession falling to Stanislav Lascek who instinctively smashed into the top corner from the right circle for 1-1. Just over two minutes later and the hosts struck again – Mason Webster’s cross ice pass set brother Brandon speeding clear down the left and his slick stick shift fooled Brett Shepherd leaving a simple tap over the line for 2-1 at 26.32.

The Jets replied instantly – Jacob Soper playing the puck off the boards setting Ross Cowan speeding down the left channel and he fired over the shoulder of Ben Clements into the top near corner from the left circle at 27.39 for 2-2. Not content with restoring parity the visitors then surged ahead – Clements saved from Adam Rosbottom but could do nothing to prevent Christian Mohr thumping in the rebound from right in front at 29.07.

One turnaround was swiftly followed by another as the Dynamos then scored two more to reverse the game again. At 29.53 Jacob Soper was sitting a hooking minor as Juraj Huska dispatched Ashley Jackson’s cross ice pass inside the near post from the left circle with a trademark slapshot for 3-3. That score should have become 4-3 at 30.50 as Jack Flynn snapped away at a rebound and tucked in at the back post but the referee had lost sight of the puck and blown his whistle despite it still being in play resulting in the goal being washed out. Flynn’s protest saw him sent to the box with a misconduct penalty.

His side were celebrating soon after though – 35.20 the moment when Juraj Huska’s blue line shot fell to Harrison Lillis close right and he swept in for a powerplay strike that put the Mos in 4-3 up.

In the final period the goal fest continued with the home side once again beginning the charge. From the right corner Anthony Leone found Ashley Jackson in the slot and he tucked inside the right post for the two goal edge at 42.50. Yet again Slough responded instantly – just 19 seconds later the puck had found twine when Christian Mohr picked out Adam Rosbottom unguarded right in front and he fired beyond Ben Clements to cut the deficit to 5-4.

Down the other end the Mos struck again. At 45.42 Stanislav Lascek scored arguably the goal of the night as he carried the play from his own zone, beating opponents down the right wing before skipping to the middle and sending a wrist shot high just inside the right post to make it 6-4. The hosts almost had another moments later in unusual circumstances – Lascek attempted a wraparound that led to a goalmouth scramble during which the referee believed he saw the puck cross the line and awarded a goal. The Jets immediately protested and after discussions with his linesman and the goal judge the effort was quickly washed out.

When the action restarted the Jets hit back one last time – at 56.20 Jacob White-Sey set up a nervy finale as his blue line shot flew through bodies and low into the bottom corner of the net to make it 6-5 with just minutes to play. Despite pulling netminder Brett Shepherd and pushing forward on a late charge, Slough were unable to find one last leveller and the Mos were victorious come the final buzzer.

So it was two points from a frantic goal frenzied game and a good result considering the effort already spent on the road in Streatham the night before with the Jets travelling fresh. Man of the match awards went to Harrison Lillis and Harry Harcup.

Pictures supplied by David Trevallion.