The Dynamos produced one of the comeback performances of the season so far to claim to vital league points on their travels.
Invicta travelled to play the Milton Keynes Thunder without the services of Nicky Lewis and Adam McNicoll whilst John Dibble continued to cover for injured netminders Damien King and James Richardson.
The Dynamos first meaningful full attack was led by Arran Strawson who skated down the left-hand side before cutting a pass across goal which Bailey Wootton just missed out on touching the puck underneath netminder David Wride. Strawson’s luck went against him minutes later, his long pass was blocked by Nidal Phillips who switched defence to attack by finding Cameron Wynn, Wynn easily evaded Strawson with the Dynamos D man slipping in the process.
An inviting pass by Wynn was converted by Jakub Klima for 1-0 on 4:07. The Dynamos only took a couple of minutes to register the equaliser through a twin effort – Haydn Wootton whizzing the puck across Wride’s goalmouth for brother Taylor to make it 1-1 on 6:48.
With time barely to take a breather the Thunder edged in front 30 seconds later, Harrison Goode dispatching the puck beyond John Dibble for 2-1 on 7:18, Adam Harris and Cameron Wynn claiming assists. The dangerous Jamie Line doubled the Thunder’s lead on 17 minutes, whipping the puck beyond Dibble after being found in space by Klima.
David Wride started to stand on his head, denying Callum Fowler and Ashley Jackson in particular as the home side took a deserved 1st period lead at the end of period buzzer with Wride facing 18 shots from the Mo’s whilst Dibble faced 12.
The Dynamos sustained heavy pressure for several 2nd period minutes, relying on John Dibble to keep out 14 shots and to keep the score to a two goal deficit. At the opposite end ex-Dynamo netminder David Wride was still in equally good form, denying the likes of Fowler and Steve Osman on his way to blocking out 12 second period shots.
With both teams failing to convert chances the period remained goalless, leaving the Dynamos needing a big final period to get anything out of the game.
With two goals to claw back the Mo’s had the perfect start – Arran Strawson correcting his earlier mistake for the first goal to score on 40:16 for 3-2 assisted by Adam Rehak.
Ondrei Zosiak and then Callum Fowler went close to equalising before the Dynamos did do it – Webster regaining passion in the centre, slotting Fowler in space for the captain to pull the puck back to Zosiak to hammer home for 3-3 on 44:16 for a perfect team goal. Invicta were now smelling blood, Steve Osman shot just over the bar, whilst Fowler then slotted just wide as the Mo’s piled on the pressure.
Against the run of play the Thunder regained the lead for 4-3 on 48:22, Jamie Line assisting for Jakub Klima’s second goal of night – at the second attempt after Dibble done well to save his first attempt.
Boris Ruzicka’s slash on Callum Fowler on 56:46 proved to be the turning point of the game. A minute into the Powerplay the Dynamos equalled the score to 4-4, Nidal Phillips slipping whilst in possession of the puck leaving Fowler to go one-on-one with Wride, with the Invicta captain showing a deke and dummy before slotting under Wride to score.
The home side’s Jamie Randall lost his head on 58:10, earning a deserved match penalty for kneeing Josh Condren right in front of referee Blaine Evans. With the Thunder now defending a 5 minute penalty as a consequence the Dynamos punished them within 3 seconds, Adam Rehak giving the Dynamos their first lead of the night for 4-5, Fowler assisting.
Half a minute later the duo swapped favours, Rehak teeing-up Fowler with the #91 expertly tipping the puck over Wride’s shoulder for 4-6 on 58:57, Ashley Jackson picking-up the second assist.
So a great comeback for the Dynamos who must now look to seek revenge against the Oxford City Stars on Sunday 11thDecember and also keep the unbeaten run of 4 games ticking along.
Mason Webster picked-up the man of the match awards for the Kent side, with Jakub Klima taking the honours for the hosts. The Mo’s registered 53 shots at David Wride whilst John Dibble faced 32 from the Thunder.