Andy Smith netted a pair on Sunday as the Invicta Dynamos secured a comfortable 8-3 victory in the NIHL South Division 1 to complete a 4 point weekend despite the best efforts of the 10 man Milton Keynes Thunder.

Milton Keynes arrived in Gillingham with just 10 players at their disposal but their enthusiasm for the tie remained unaffected as they notched the opener early on for the 1-0 lead.

At 2.31 Alex Whyte sent Bradley Moore in behind an absent Dynamos defence and Moore made the most of the breakaway – firing high over the shoulder of Davey Jackson for the breakthrough.

A succession of penalties then looked to be halting the home side’s attempts to respond but a shorthanded reply would come midway through – 10.34 the moment when Marek Nahlik and Andy Smith countered on a 2-on-1 – the Slovak sending Smith in all alone and the forward rifling in high over the grasp of Denis Bell for 1-1.

The Mos could then have had the lead before the break but the Thunder’s young shot stopper pulled off an inspired save – an outstretched leg thwarting Smith’s back post redirect that was bound for the bottom corner.

In the second frame Milton Keynes again netted first – the clock showing 26.01 when Shaun Wild committed to a hit that left him out of place for match reporter’s nightmare Piotr Poziomkowski to slip in behind 2-on-1 – the Pole using the man in the middle as a decoy and sending a wrist shot low into the far corner for 2-1.

However the deficit only served to fire their hosts into action and the Thunder goal was soon living a charmed life – Andy Smith sending the play onto the frame with a miscue at the back stick before Callum Fowler’s effort from the left circle also hit the crossbar.

At 32.53 the visitors’ luck would run out – Juraj Huska appearing harmless behind the away net but claiming a mischievous equaliser as he stick shifted the puck around the near post and over the line to complete the wraparound before Denis Bell could move. At 33.19 it was then 3-2 – Marek Nahlik not looking best placed to shoot from his position against the right boards but his slapshot comprised of so much power that it beat the netminder at his near post to secure the lead.

Not content with a one goal edge, the hosts would add another before the break – Andy Smith’s mazy skate seeing him beat two men before a pass to the crease that was diverted home by Daniel Hammond for 4-2.

In the final frame the Dynamos found another gear and that resulted in another goal soon after the restart. At 40.36 Shaun Wild’s weak drive from the back of the left circle should never have found twine but a mistake from the otherwise impressive Denis Bell saw it creep inside the far post for 5-2.

However, at 43.48, the determined Thunder mustered another reply to cut that lead as the Mos were guilty of being too attack minded – Marek Nahlik the furthest man back when Nidal Phillips sent Ryan Coffey in on the breakaway and Coffey finished high from close right to make it 5-3.

Despite their resilience, Milton Keynes would fail to find the net again and the remainder of the night was spent watching their hosts move out of sight.

The three goal cushion was restored by the Dynamos at 48.19 – Peter Beerling finding Daniel Fudger just left of the crease and the home side’s number 74 rifling in low across goal for 6-3.

At 50.26 it was then 7-3 – Arran Strawson picking out captain Anthony Leone on the inside edge of the right circle and the forward lashing a wrist shot high towards the near post that slipped through the glove of Denis Bell for a commanding lead.

The icing was then put on the cake late on when, despite having both Callum Fowler and Juraj Huska sitting minor penalties, the Mos added their last at 57.11 – Arran Strawson giving Andy Smith a sight of net and the forward driving over the shoulder of the goalie despite the two man deficit for 8-3.

So it was a comfortable win come the buzzer for the Dynamos with the two points being secured despite a lethargic start.

Man of the match awards went to Andy Smith of the hosts whilst 17 year old shot stopper Denis Bell deservedly took the beers for Milton Keynes having faced the rubber 56 times.

To listen to our exclusive interviews with Kevin Parrish and Ryan Giles from after the game, click here: https://soundcloud.com/kent-sports-news

Picture supplied by David Trevallion.