The Invicta Dynamos got back to winning ways in style on Sunday night as they beat league challengers Wightlink Raiders.
Having been well and truly beaten by Chelmsford Chieftains the night before in the Southeast Trophy, Kevin Parrish’s side returned to Gillingham looking to prove a point.
Without a doubt, they did it in the end as they brought home the two points that saw them climb over their opponents into second in the league table.
It wasn’t to be one way traffic though with Jeremy Cornish’s side putting up some stiff resistance at the Silver Blades Ice Bowl.
In fact, it was Wightlink that were to lead the game twice, taking a fifth minute lead, but the Dynamos showed real grit and determination to impress in front of their home fans.
Record points scorer Andy Smith got the ball (or puck) rolling in the tenth minute as he rounded off a great move involving Juraj Huska and Callum Fowler and the Dynamos were to go in 2-1 up at the break with Huska going one on one with the Wightlink netminder before drilling the puck home.
It could have been even better for the import, but he saw another effort come back off the post.
The second period started like the first ended with Nicky Lewis hitting the post for the Dynamos, whilst Wightlink wrestled control of the game once again as they put two past Chris Douglas to lead 3-2.
Undaunted by going behind, the Dynamos stepped it up again as the second period went on with skipper Anthony Leone leading the way with two well taken goals to give the home side a 4-3 lead going into the last.
With the game still in the balance and a nervy atmosphere in the rink, the Dynamos stretched further ahead in the 47th minute as import Marik Nahlik got himself on the scoresheet and the tie was all but wrapped up three minutes later as Fowler surged clear and deposited the puck into the net after going one on one.
The Dynamos rounded off a great night for the club by sealing victory with a seventh on 54 minutes, with the hard working Danny Hammond rewarded for his efforts.
In the end, the 7-3 scoreline doesn’t reflect how the game went, but it produces two vital points for the Dynamos who go back second in the NIHL South league, just two points behind leaders Chelmsford who lost at home to London Raiders.
The Dynamos now head to Milton Keynes Thunder on Saturday night for a league and cup double header, before returning to Gillingham for their final fixture before the Christmas break, taking on the Streatham Redskins in the league on Sunday 22nd Decemeber.
To listen to our exclusive interviews with Kevin Parrish and new signing Chris Cooke from after the game, click here: https://soundcloud.com/kent-sports-news
Picture supplied by David Trevallion.