The Invicta Dynamos suffered defeat in Oxford on Sunday night in a feisty affair.

The Dynamos welcomed back the suspended duo of Mason Webster and Harrison Lillis to give them 13 skaters for the trip to Oxford. The first period was a fast paced affair with both netminders earning plaudits. The Stars Alan Green, forever a menace when he faces the Mo’s had John Dibble busy in the Dynamos goal within the opening minutes. Both teams went close within a few seconds of each other not long after, Adam McNicoll seeing his blue line slapshot saved by Tom Annetts which had the Stars racing forward at the opposite end where Dibble had to be quick to deny dangerman Jaroslav Cesky.

Annetts then prevented Scott Bailey and Adam Rehak in quick succession with Rehak showing once again he would be a danger all night to the Stars defence. A Cesky tripping penalty gave the Dynamos a man advantage on the powerplay and although Taylor Wootton and Adam McNicoll would register shots the Mo’s failed to take advantage – with the Stars also going close on the shorthand.

The Stars opened the scoring on 17:14 – Dax Hedges finally beating Dibble with assists going the way of Hallam Wilson and Michael Whillock. Cesky would again call Dibble into action shortly before the buzzer with both teams going into the start of the second period separated by a single goal.

The second period had the fans enjoying 5 goals. The Mo’s came out of the blocks flying and were soon rewarded with an equalising goal through Steve Osman on 22:45, which came from great build-up play involving Bailey Wootton and Scott Bailey who were rewarded with assists. Just over a minute later the Mo’s sneaked ahead – Bailey Wootton continuing his good form by converting past Annetts for 1-2 on 23:54 after Steve Osman and Mason Webster linked-up to play the forward in for his goal.

With the Stars looking shocked a timeout was called straight after the Wootton goal – and the coaching talk came to nothing with the Mo’s scoring again on 24:49, Mason Webster putting the Mo’s two goals ahead with Osman assisting again. Alan Green was still being a constant threat for the Mo’s D-men and when he beat Harrison Lillis on 27:37 he was left racing clear with only Dibble to beat and made no mistake to peg the score back to 2-3.

A Bailey Wootton roughing penalty was successfully defended near the halfway mark – only for the Mo’s to concede staright after going full strength. Matt Jordan made no mistake on 29:50 when he beat Dibble for 3-3. Once again both netminders were busy as the period played out to set-up a tight final period.

The Stars started the brighter in the 3rd frame – and produced their 4th goal of the night courtesy of Domini Hopkins strike on 40:53, Cesky and Paynter assisting. Adam Rehak came close to narrowing the deficit on the shorthand in the 43rd minute whilst Bailey Wootton was serving a cross checking penalty.

A brief coming together between Jake Florey and Mason Webster in the 46th minute was separated by the officials but a sign of what was to come later in the game. With Alan Green serving a slashing penalty on 46:22 the Mo’s had the opportunity to claw a goal back – but conceded on the shorthand to a Jesse Lye goal on 48:22 for a 5-3 score.

Tempers continued to boil, Rehak’s hit on Josh Oliver was revenged by Annetts in quick succession. A few minutes later Rehak and Oliver came to blows – the Dynamos import securing a convincing win. With the game now into the final minute there was time to squeeze in three more fights, Mason Webster and Dax Hedges trading punches by the dozen to get all the fans in the arena on their feet. Seconds after Webster and Hedges were put in the penalty box Bailey Wootton and Ben Paynter traded blows from the resulting face-off as did Harrison Lillis and Michael Whillock. Referee William Hewitt giving all players 2+2 minutes for roughing, with Webster getting an extra 10 minutes for misconduct.

So it was a defeat on the road for the Dynamos despite outshooting the Stars by 33 to 31 shots. Bailey Wootton claimed the man of the match award for the visitors for his two goals and one assist – Dominic Hopkins was also a the recipient of beers for his single goal and assist for the Stars.