The Invicta Dynamos started 2016 in style with a comfortable 7-3 win over the Bracknell Hornets on Sunday.

Kevin Parrish’s side went into their opening fixture of the new year without the services of five players, brothers Bailey, Hayden and Taylor Wootton, along with Adam McNicoll and Andy Henderson.

Despite the quintet being missing for a variety of reasons, the Dynamos still had too much firepower for their opponents.

It took just three minutes to open the scoring with Eriks Ozollapa firing home from close range after Daniel Milton padded away an initial Callum Fowler shot.

With the game going end to end, the Dymamos were unlucky not to double their lead, hitting the frame of the goal twice, whilst at the other end, Bracknell missed a golden opportunity to level with Ryan Handisides unable to beat Damien King from a penalty strike.

It proved to be very costly as the Dynamos went into the first break 2-0 up with Steve Osman firing home in the 18th minute after more good work from Fowler.

Any doubts that Bracknell were going to just let the Dynamos run away with the game were put to bed in the 25th minute when Handisides slotted home past King who was left exposed.

Sensing the game was back in the balance, the Dynamos went through the gears and made it 3-1 in the 28th minute with Ozollapa picking out Conor Redmond to score from close range.

Less than two minutes later and it was 4-1 when Brad Gutridge scored his first goal in a Dynamos shirt, redirecting a Damien Welch strike, to the delight of the home support.

The Dynamos once again were guilty of resting on their laurels and Bracknell made it 4-2 in the 38th minute with Handisides reducing the deficit.

Seven minutes into the final period and the home fans began to sit a little less easy in their seats when the Hornets pegged it back to 4-3 with Joshua Martin on target.

Knowing they had to up their game to avoid a shock defeat, the Dynamos stepped it in the final ten minutes or so.

At 49.26, Jacob Ranson sent a shot across goal and captain Nicky Lewis was on hand to turn the puck home. Sixteen seconds later and it was 6-3 when Steve Osman scored a fine individual goal, breaking from the halfway line, ghosting past challenges before slotting past Milton.

The game was wrapped up in the 58th minute as Ozollapa scored his second of the night at the second attempt, leaving the home support to breath a huge sigh of relief.

Just as it seemed like the game was going to peter out, with just ten seconds left on the clock, Brad Watchorn and Grant Baxter decided to go toe to toe, with the former coming out on top.

In the end the 7-3 scoreline was all that mattered and it was two crucial points for the Dynamos considering league leaders Chelmsford Chieftains lost 4-2 at home to Wightlink Raiders.

The Dynamos will go into next weekend now buoyed by the two results with a trip to London Raiders to come on Saturday night, before welcoming Wightlink Raiders to Gillingham on Sunday evening.

To listen to our exclusive interviews with Kevin Parrish and Jack Lee from after the game, click here:

https://audioboom.com/boos/4045654-kevin-parrish-after-invicta-dynamos-beat-bracknell-hornets-7-3

https://audioboom.com/boos/4045679-jack-lee-after-invicta-dynamos-beat-bracknell-hornets-7-3